zeebox Gives The Big Game Second-screen Experience

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, February 3, 2013 zeebox (www.zeebox.com), the second-screen app for TV, will be throwing the ultimate virtual viewing party designed to serve up a robust second-screen experience around the big game that appeals to sports fans and those just in it for the commercials and halftime show. Fans will be able to chat in real-time with NeNe Leakes (The Real Housewives of Atlanta, The New Normal) and other fans, vote on favorite commercials and even answer trivia questions for a chance to win NFL 2013 season tickets.

The party kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and will be hosted by NeNe Leakes, star of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta and NBC's The New Normal. Viewers will be able to join the live party at game time via the zeebox app – available for free via Google Play and the Apple App Store – to chat with talent on a number of juicy topics as well as interact with a new feature called the "Buzz Bubbler," a real-time social meter that captures brand buzz around advertisers who are airing commercials during the game. Fans in the app will be able to vote in the Buzz Bubbler by clicking on their favorite brand and tweeting their words of support.

In addition to engaging around commercials, viewers will also be able to answer football-related trivia questions during the event for a chance to win a pair of NFL 2013 regular season tickets as well as participate in live polls. And for the sports enthusiasts that actually tune in for the football (and not just the halftime show and commercials!), zeebox will provide real-time stats including a box score with scoring summary, team and player data, lineups, and player cards, keeping at least this "playing field" level.

"We strategically stayed away from 'me-too' offerings that catered strictly to sports fanatics, because we wanted an experience that also highlighted the social velocity around the commercials, halftime show and event in general," said Jennifer Kavanagh, zeebox SVP, marketing. "Having NeNe join zeebox for the big game is a perfect fit for viewers who want to connect with talent at the party while still getting access to great sports stats presented in a fun and engaging way."

zeebox's unique features – including its sleek programming guide, contextual zeetags and social functionality – have driven outstanding engagement rates of 30 minutes per user session on average.

About zeebox
zeebox is the award-winning, market-leading TV companion app that allows viewers a new, social, interactive and immersive way to watch TV. By turning a smartphone, tablet or laptop into an interactive companion, consumers can engage with friends around TV shows, buy what they see on screen, remote control their TV, and get more information about whatever program they're watching including access to exclusive interactive content.

Launched in the UK in 2011 by former iPlayer CTO Anthony Rose and EMI executive Ernesto Schmitt, zeebox quickly surpassed the 1MM download mark after its 2012 U.S. introduction on Android and iOS in just three months – reaching this mark faster than any other app of its kind – and continues to strike a chord with both consumers and TV networks. The zeebox app recently topped Mashable's "5 Best iPad Apps of 2012" and was also chosen for the "2012 Editor's Choice" and "10 Essentials in Entertainment" by the Apple App Store. The company is headquartered in London with offices in New York and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.zeebox.com.

SOURCE zeebox