BuddyTV is an entertainment-based website, which generates content about television programs and sporting events. The website publishes information about celebrity and related entertainment news through a series of articles, entertainment profiles, actor biographies and user forums.[1] On 31 December 2014, Smart TV manufacturer VIZIO acquired BuddyTV's parent Advanced Media Research Group, Inc., in order to expand content and service offerings.[2] The site was shut down on 22 May 2018.[3] The site was later relaunched on 30 August 2021 by a small web content company with the intent to resurrect BuddyTV.
BuddyTV was co-founded in 2005 by Andy Liu and David Niu. The pair graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration. They sold their previous company, NetConversions, to aQuantive in 2004. While on a holiday, they realized that television is a "very passive or non-social experience", and wanted to "express ourselves at the time of the show".[4] The website is also designed to allow real-time commentary for sports, allowing former players and fans to broadcast their opinions on basketball and baseball games. Niu felt that other Internet companies which were offering online sportscasting tools did not effectively combine audio broadcasts with online comments and forums.[4]
In May 2007, BuddyTV received a loan of $250,000 from the Charles River Quick Start Seed Funding Program,[5] at which time it was attracting 2 million unique visitors per month.[6] In a first round financing, Gemstar-TV Guide International invested $2.8 million into the website.[5] In September 2007, paidContent reported that BuddyTV was being acquired by Comcast, at which time it was receiving 3 million unique visitors per month and had hired 20 employees.[7] However, the reports were later confirmed to be untrue.[8] In April 2008, BuddyTV raised $6 million in a second round, with investments mainly coming from Madrona Venture Group. The two rounds saw a total raise of $9 million. Funding was expected to go towards investing in new personnel and technology.[8]
BuddyTV has been compared to the television commentary site Television Without Pity. Television Without Pity's co-editor Sarah Bunting said that the website's focus is on in-depth and humorous recaps that appear three or four days after the episodes air. BuddyTV is designed, however, to provide immediate feedback.[4] Liu said that many television networks were interested in partnering with BuddyTV to build online communities around their shows.[9]
In September 2010, BuddyTV entered the mobile space with a new app for the iPhone and iPad.[10] "We're making a big bet on the mobile and tablet side of things," said CEO Andy Liu. "When I watch TV, I've got my iPad open, I've got mobile phones nearby as well, and I think in the next 12 to 18 months this whole movement towards being a lot more social in television is really going to come together, and we just want to get ahead of that. It's amazing how much hardware has changed this space."[10]
Soon after its first mobile app release, Seattle entrepreneur and technology executive Bill Baxter joined BuddyTV as its chief technology officer and executive vice president of products.[11] A year later, the app was featured in TechCrunch.[12]
On 31 December 2014, Smart TV manufacturer Vizio acquired BuddyTV's parent Advanced Media Research Group, Inc.[2] Three and a half years later on 22 May 2018, the website went offline.[3] The site has since relaunched under new management.
Business model
BuddyTV made money through online advertising and by offering advanced publishing tools to commentators. The website had a partnership with Windows Media Center, allowing viewers to turn on BuddyTV commentary on their televisions during shows.[4] In 2007, online survey hosting company QuestionPro and Buddy TV created a new way for advertisers to learn about the viewers of television series which featured their ads. BuddyTV used custom online surveys from QuestionPro to gather information and opinion from the community of fans. BuddyTV's analysts compiled the results and produced a report within days for the advertiser.[13]
In June 2010, BuddyTV entered an advertising partnership with Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes. "This is a terrific partnership that capitalizes on each company's growth in social networking, mobile, and online to reach a huge and influential audience of trendsetting consumers," said Joe Greenstein, co-founder and CEO of Flixster Inc.[14] "For us, we now have a large and professional sales force to sell our inventory directly to agencies and advertisers," said BuddyTV's Neal Freeland.[15] "We already have some of these relationships, but expect this partnership to grow the volume significantly."
Impact
BuddyTV has been described as "the Web's best entertainment-based community site".[13] The website contained information about 410 television series, and provided content to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Co-founder Liu described it as the "largest independent TV fan site".[9] In March and April 2007, BuddyTV was the seventh most visited website in the Seattle startup index.[16][17]
^ abcdCook, John (April 7, 2006). "TV fans, this online service wants to be your buddy". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^ abKaplan, David (July 30, 2007). "Entertainment Fan Site BuddyTV Raises $2.8 Million In First Round Led By Gemstar-TV Guide". paidContent. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^Cook, John (May 11, 2007). . Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^Weisenthal, Joseph (September 16, 2007). "Comcast Buying Entertainment Community Site BuddyTV". paidContent. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^ abWeisenthal, Joseph (April 14, 2008). "TV Community BuddyTV Gets $6 Million Second Round". paidContent. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^ abCook, John (July 30, 2007). "TVGuide.com operator buys stake in BuddyTV". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
^ ab"BuddyTV Bets the Company That TV Will Go Social on Smartphones and Tablets". October 12, 2010.
^"Bill Baxter joins BuddyTV as CTO". October 5, 2010.
^"BuddyTV Turns Your iPhone Into A Smarter Viewing Guide And Remote". July 26, 2011.
^ ab. Business Wire. January 25, 2007. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
^"Flixster Goes Primetime in Partnership with BuddyTV". Business Wire. June 24, 2010. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
^. TechFlash. June 24, 2010. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012.
^Cook, John (May 6, 2008). . Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
^Calbucci, Marcelo (April 7, 2008). . Seattle 2.0. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
External links
February 06, 2023
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BuddyTV is an entertainment based website which generates content about television programs and sporting events The website publishes information about celebrity and related entertainment news through a series of articles entertainment profiles actor biographies and user forums 1 On 31 December 2014 Smart TV manufacturer VIZIO acquired BuddyTV s parent Advanced Media Research Group Inc in order to expand content and service offerings 2 The site was shut down on 22 May 2018 3 The site was later relaunched on 30 August 2021 by a small web content company with the intent to resurrect BuddyTV BuddyTVOwnerAprospectus LLCCreated byVarious contributorsURLhttps www buddytv comLaunchedJuly 31 2007Current statusOnline Contents 1 History 2 Business model 3 Impact 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditBuddyTV was co founded in 2005 by Andy Liu and David Niu The pair graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration They sold their previous company NetConversions to aQuantive in 2004 While on a holiday they realized that television is a very passive or non social experience and wanted to express ourselves at the time of the show 4 The website is also designed to allow real time commentary for sports allowing former players and fans to broadcast their opinions on basketball and baseball games Niu felt that other Internet companies which were offering online sportscasting tools did not effectively combine audio broadcasts with online comments and forums 4 In May 2007 BuddyTV received a loan of 250 000 from the Charles River Quick Start Seed Funding Program 5 at which time it was attracting 2 million unique visitors per month 6 In a first round financing Gemstar TV Guide International invested 2 8 million into the website 5 In September 2007 paidContent reported that BuddyTV was being acquired by Comcast at which time it was receiving 3 million unique visitors per month and had hired 20 employees 7 However the reports were later confirmed to be untrue 8 In April 2008 BuddyTV raised 6 million in a second round with investments mainly coming from Madrona Venture Group The two rounds saw a total raise of 9 million Funding was expected to go towards investing in new personnel and technology 8 BuddyTV has been compared to the television commentary site Television Without Pity Television Without Pity s co editor Sarah Bunting said that the website s focus is on in depth and humorous recaps that appear three or four days after the episodes air BuddyTV is designed however to provide immediate feedback 4 Liu said that many television networks were interested in partnering with BuddyTV to build online communities around their shows 9 In September 2010 BuddyTV entered the mobile space with a new app for the iPhone and iPad 10 We re making a big bet on the mobile and tablet side of things said CEO Andy Liu When I watch TV I ve got my iPad open I ve got mobile phones nearby as well and I think in the next 12 to 18 months this whole movement towards being a lot more social in television is really going to come together and we just want to get ahead of that It s amazing how much hardware has changed this space 10 Soon after its first mobile app release Seattle entrepreneur and technology executive Bill Baxter joined BuddyTV as its chief technology officer and executive vice president of products 11 A year later the app was featured in TechCrunch 12 On 31 December 2014 Smart TV manufacturer Vizio acquired BuddyTV s parent Advanced Media Research Group Inc 2 Three and a half years later on 22 May 2018 the website went offline 3 The site has since relaunched under new management Business model EditBuddyTV made money through online advertising and by offering advanced publishing tools to commentators The website had a partnership with Windows Media Center allowing viewers to turn on BuddyTV commentary on their televisions during shows 4 In 2007 online survey hosting company QuestionPro and Buddy TV created a new way for advertisers to learn about the viewers of television series which featured their ads BuddyTV used custom online surveys from QuestionPro to gather information and opinion from the community of fans BuddyTV s analysts compiled the results and produced a report within days for the advertiser 13 In June 2010 BuddyTV entered an advertising partnership with Flixster and Rotten Tomatoes This is a terrific partnership that capitalizes on each company s growth in social networking mobile and online to reach a huge and influential audience of trendsetting consumers said Joe Greenstein co founder and CEO of Flixster Inc 14 For us we now have a large and professional sales force to sell our inventory directly to agencies and advertisers said BuddyTV s Neal Freeland 15 We already have some of these relationships but expect this partnership to grow the volume significantly Impact EditBuddyTV has been described as the Web s best entertainment based community site 13 The website contained information about 410 television series and provided content to the Seattle Post Intelligencer Co founder Liu described it as the largest independent TV fan site 9 In March and April 2007 BuddyTV was the seventh most visited website in the Seattle startup index 16 17 See also EditTV SquadReferences Edit BuddyTV History Information Editors and Contributors BuddyTV Retrieved December 15 2007 a b VIZIO Holdings Inc Class A Common Stock prospectus Visio 2015 09 25 Retrieved 2016 02 12 a b Dear Fellow Television Fans The BuddyTV Team Retrieved May 24 2018 a b c d Cook John April 7 2006 TV fans this online service wants to be your buddy Seattle Post Intelligencer Retrieved 2 December 2008 a b Kaplan David July 30 2007 Entertainment Fan Site BuddyTV Raises 2 8 Million In First Round Led By Gemstar TV Guide paidContent Retrieved 2 December 2008 Cook John May 11 2007 BuddyTV on King 5 Seattle Post Intelligencer Archived from the original on 14 March 2016 Retrieved 2 December 2008 Weisenthal Joseph September 16 2007 Comcast Buying Entertainment Community Site BuddyTV paidContent Retrieved 2 December 2008 a b Weisenthal Joseph April 14 2008 TV Community BuddyTV Gets 6 Million Second Round paidContent Retrieved 2 December 2008 a b Cook John July 30 2007 TVGuide com operator buys stake in BuddyTV Seattle Post Intelligencer Retrieved 2 December 2008 a b BuddyTV Bets the Company That TV Will Go Social on Smartphones and Tablets October 12 2010 Bill Baxter joins BuddyTV as CTO October 5 2010 BuddyTV Turns Your iPhone Into A Smarter Viewing Guide And Remote July 26 2011 a b BuddyTV and QuestionPro Launch Audience Research Service Business Wire January 25 2007 Archived from the original on 17 September 2008 Retrieved 3 December 2008 Flixster Goes Primetime in Partnership with BuddyTV Business Wire June 24 2010 Archived from the original on 24 June 2010 Retrieved 24 June 2010 BuddyTV Flixster ink ad deal TechFlash June 24 2010 Archived from the original on 7 March 2012 Cook John May 6 2008 Wetpaint BuddyTV among top Seattle startups Seattle Post Intelligencer Archived from the original on 14 March 2016 Retrieved 3 December 2008 Calbucci Marcelo April 7 2008 Seattle Startup Index for March 2008 Seattle 2 0 Archived from the original on 9 April 2008 Retrieved 3 December 2008 External links EditListing of top 10 Seattle startups Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BuddyTV amp oldid 1118784763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
