Tribune Media Services Launches New Metadata Products for Entertainment Guide Providers

CHICAGO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Media Services (TMS), a leading provider of entertainment information databases, has launched two new metadata content packages for entertainment guide providers.  The On™ TV GuidancePack and On™ TV DiscoveryPack are being introduced to address the changing habits of TV viewers and the increasing need of media and technology companies to offer enhanced on-screen, online and mobile entertainment guide applications.  

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Consumers are watching more programming on more devices than ever before.  The new On TV GuidancePack contains navigational products specifically designed to show viewers what's on across all device options, from their living room TVs to their tablets and mobile phones. The GuidancePack includes TV program listings for linear TV schedules, online video sources  and Video-On-Demand (VOD) services.  

At the same time, the rise of social media and suggestion-based marketing have made consumers increasingly receptive to viewing recommendations. The new On TV DiscoveryPack provides a suite of relational discovery tools designed to help viewers decide what to watch, including program-related images, keywords, recommendations and episode guides.  These elements are integrated seamlessly with TMS Unique IDs, the industry's gold standard for recognizing and synchronizing entertainment assets.

Within these two new packages, the company has also launched three new enhanced metadata products:

• Online Video Data: a highly structured index of the vast array of videos available online for guides that meet the increased demand for time-shifted viewing and catch-up TV.  This data is produced by CastTV, the industry leader in online video search and indexing.  CastTV was acquired by TMS in December 2010.
• Keywords and Recommendations: extensive editor-selected information that supports growing trends toward open-ended entertainment discovery via deep searches and recommendation engines.
• Image Gallery: an extensive collection of images for the most popular movies and shows on TV which, in conjunction with TMS listings data, powers the visually-rich entertainment guides proliferating today.

Integrating seamlessly with the TMS' flagship On TV metadata, these new products help providers establish their guides as reliable portals for finding and enjoying video content and position their brands as the go-to resource for entertainment guidance, on any platform.

"We live in a multi-screen world," said Jay Fehnel, Chief Operating Officer of Tribune Media Services Entertainment Products division.  "These new data packages are loaded with deep, rich metadata, going far beyond traditional entertainment data.  They provide all the tools needed to significantly enhance existing guide interfaces, while creating robust second- and third-screen guide experiences on additional devices."  

TMS metadata powers the leading television and movie guide products which reach millions of consumers in 40 countries through clients including Microsoft, Google, TiVo, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, and IMDb.  

About Tribune Media Services

Tribune Media Services' Entertainment Products division is an international leader in entertainment navigation.  TMS provides industry-leading databases of TV, movie and celebrity information; guides in print, online and on-screen formats; and advertising and marketing services to build audiences.  The company also produces Zap2it.com and CastTV.com, web sites that connect engaged entertainment fanatics to popular TV shows, celebrities, movies, events and other fans.  For more information about TMS Entertainment Products visit TribuneMediaServices.com.

Media Contact:
Dana Gage
Vice President, Marketing, Entertainment Products
Tribune Media Services
Office:  817.275.5161
Cell:  817.233.7020
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Tribune Media Services