Civolution Keeps Vienna State Opera 2nd Screen App Right On The Beat
Innovative use of ACR sync technology is part of strategy to build global opera-loving audience
Vienna, Austria, October 16 2013 – Civolution, the leading provider of technology and solutions for identifying, managing and monetizing content, today announces that its Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology has been integrated with the Vienna State Opera’s multilingual 2nd screen app for live performances distributed as Over-the-Top Television (OTT). The app enables OTT opera viewers to make the most of the experience with a multilingual 2nd screen app that is synchronised with the opera performance.
The Vienna State Opera is quickly embracing the adoption of 2nd screens companion devices and saw an opportunity to demystify the opera experience for potential new fans and provide a richer and deeper interaction for existing opera lovers.
“The opera is an experience people from all over the world would love to enjoy on a more regular basis’’, says Christopher Widauer, Vienna State Opera. “Through OTT delivery we are now able to provide access locally and reach a brand new and wider audience. By providing compelling 2nd screen experiences, we aim to create a stronger link with viewers globally and enable them to better follow and enjoy the Opera play, whatever their language or location. Bringing together various app developers and world leading ACR technology by Civolution ensures that we are delivering outstanding 2nd screen experiences, which really brings the opera alive on TV.”
The launch of this new app will enable event specialists to offer a local version of the opera to the viewer’s screen by delivering synchronized translations of the lyrics to the viewer’s own language. Civolution and app development company PocketScience joined forces to develop the Wiener Staatsoper App for the Vienna State Opera, which paves the way for opera companies to reach new audiences. This new feature relies on Civolution’s ACR technology SyncNow, which enables the app to ‘hear’ watermarks in the OTT soundtrack, which are used to synchronize the app with the Opera. One of the key features of this approach is that however delayed the OTT experience is, the app is always in sync with the event, as the watermark is detected after its journey over the Internet. The 2nd screen app will ultimately provide a number of features such as partition display, information about the performance, details of the singers and provide multilingual subtitles of the play in English, Japanese, Korean and more.
The app will be available on iOS and Android from October 27th, 2013 as part of the Opera’s special OTT ticket offer, which is an important part of its strategy to modernize and build a global audience for opera.
“By delivering a synchronized experience between the stage and the 2nd screen, the Vienna State Opera is enabling viewers to engage with the play in a way that has never been seen before’’ says Andy Nobbs, Chief Marketing Officer, Civolution. ‘’We are very proud to once again be part of a visionary and exciting new project that sees synchronization taken to new grounds’’.
The synchronization between the content and the 2nd screen relies on Civolution’s widely deployed SyncNow ACR solution. SyncNow enables real-time identification and second-accurate synchronization between broadcast, on-demand or recorded content and interactive applications on companion devices – tablets, smartphones and laptops – to present compelling synchronized interactive user experiences. SyncNow already powers a range of 2nd screen consumer applications for movie and show producers, broadcasters, 2nd screen platform providers and advertisers worldwide.
About Civolution
Civolution (www.civolution.com) is the leading provider of technology and solutions to identify, manage and monetize media content. The company offers an extensive portfolio of cutting edge digital watermarking and fingerprinting based applications for media interaction (accurate and real-time video synchronization for 2nd screen and smart TVs), media intelligence (audience measurement and media monitoring for television, radio and internet) and media protection (content filtering and forensic marking of media assets in pre-release, digital cinema, payTV and online). Follow us on Twitter: @Civolution.
