Rovi EPGs To Add Contextual Commerce

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 2/15/2011

Santa Clara, Calif. - Rovi and Delivery Agent, a multichannel commerce system for sports and entertainment, are collaborating on what they call "the first-ever contextual commerce capability" within Rovi electronic program guides (EPGs) for television programming.

With this capability, consumers will be able to buy products and services directly from their television program guides using remote controls. Similar commerce capabilities are also planned to be available to consumers who access their electronic program guides through the web, the companies said.

Powered by Delivery Agent's interactive commerce engine, including its TV Wallet, and database of products mapped to television content, the new shopping guides are planned to roll out next quarter. Shows targeted for the system include "Biggest Loser" and "The Office" and A&E Television Network series such as "Pawn Stars," which airs on History.

In parallel with the launch of commerce capabilities that allow consumers interacting with the guide to purchase products seen in and associated with related television programming, Delivery Agent plans to work with Rovi to offer EPG display advertisers the opportunity to add commerce elements to their advertising programs, providing a turnkey solution that includes designing, hosting and managing a fully branded commerce and transaction experience.

"The electronic program guide is often the first point of contact a viewer has with a program on any given day and guide users visit the guide on average nine times daily," said Jeff Siegel, Rovi worldwide advertising sales senior VP. "The ability to shop-enable our guide by dynamically mapping products to listings can open up new opportunities for media companies to reach a highly engaged and active consumer audience."

"Delivery Agent's commerce platform ... was built to close the gap between a consumer seeing a product on screen and a purchase opportunity," said Mike Fitzsimmons, Delivery Agent CEO. He added that the deployment of shopping program guides will better serve consumers, who now have easier access to purchase contextually relevant product; entertainment companies, which can monetize branded content by selling products within the program guides; and advertisers, which can commerce enable their campaigns within the guide.