Delivering related web content synchronized to online television: The LinkedTV solution

This paper describes a solution for synchronized delivery of Web content related to objects and topics present in a parallel online television programme, which we call "Linked Television". A content platform prepares the TV programme by analyzing, annotating and enriching it with links to Web content through a combination of innovative Web services. An editor tool allows manual correction and completion of the enrichment. A Web-based player allows multiple devices to synchronise the video and its related content across different screens. The result is a richer TV experience for the "second screen" generation who, initiated by TV viewing, like to explore further content online. We back this up by pilots using news and cultural heritage programming which have been validated in trials by viewers as enhancing their TV experience.