Launch marks the first commercial use of digital audio watermarking technology in a TV companion app in the UK.

Red Bee Media, one of the world’s leading media management companies providing multi-platform technology and creative solutions to broadcasters, content rights holders, platform operators and brand owners, today announced a deal with FX UK to create and produce the network’s first ever companion app.

The app has been developed to support the eagerly anticipated return of the critically acclaimed series, The Walking Dead, which continues its UK season premiere on FX UK on 17 February.

The second screen experience will provide audiences with a new, social and immersive way to engage with one of FX UK’s top rated TV series including: the ability to predict the number of zombie kills in each episode, watch as the action unfolds and share your results via Facebook or Twitter; select and watch previous zombie kills according to episode, character or weapon; view trailers of upcoming episodes; and see what’s being said about The Walking Dead on Twitter and interact with the Twittersphere.

The app will be available free of charge from 3 February and will be available on both iPhones and iPads.

The Walking Dead app utilises cutting-edge digital audio watermarking technology, powered by Civolution, which allows audiences to accurately sync the second screen experience to the television programme, both live and on demand. Digital audio watermarking embeds indelible and imperceptible metadata about each show, such as timecode, which is then extracted and interpreted onto the second screen device. This is the first time that digital audio watermarking technology has been deployed commercially as part of a TV companion app in the UK.

"We are proud to work with FX UK to deliver this cutting-edge, first of its kind, second screen experience to consumers across the UK. The convergence of mobile and social technological innovation and consumer adoption is effecting dramatic changes to nearly every aspect of the industry. It is now widely acknowledged that multi-tasking in front of the TV is increasingly commonplace and research tells us that 60%1 of people in the UK concurrently watch TV and go online at least two or three times a week. This provides us with an opportunity to help our partners to build lasting relationships between their content and consumers by offering a new dimension in engagement that fuels excitement, deepens experiences and extends consumers’ enjoyment without detracting from the main screen.”

Bill Patrizio CEO, Red Bee Media

"The Walking Dead is such a fertile property online already that developing that discussion further on to the next level of engagement without compromising the viewing experience was a natural next step for us. Red Bee Media were the ideal partners given their wealth of experience in second screen activity. We are incredibly excited to launch the channel’s first ever IOS app on February 3, just in time for the airing of the second part of season 2 on Friday, February 17. We hope the fans take part.”

Cecilia Parker General Manager, FX UK

The Walking Dead companion app has been developed using Red Bee Media’sRedDiscover™ technologies, which was announced earlier this week.

RedDiscover™ combines Red Bee Media’s established metadata build sourcing and distribution services with award-winning search, recommendation and personalisation technologies, creative and user interface design and companion applications and ‘second screen’ experiences to enhance the user journey.

RedDiscover™ launch clients include iconic international lifestyle and entertainment media company, Time Out, and Dutch publishing house, Veronica Publishing, which is owned by Dutch media company SBS Broadcasting B.V.

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About Red Bee

Red Bee Media is the leading global media services partner for innovation and growth. We enable some of the world’s most recognised media brands, broadcasters and content owners to instantly connect with audiences anywhere at any time. Every day, millions of people across the globe discover, enjoy and engage with content prepared, managed, broadcast and streamed by Red Bee Media. Headquartered in London, with more than 2,000 media experts in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America, Red Bee Media provides innovative solutions across the entire content delivery chain, including Playout, Streaming, Distribution, MCR, Media Management, Access, Content Discovery, and Post-Production services.

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For press enquiries, please contact:
Gabija Jonsson
Head of Communications, Red Bee Media
gabija.jonsson@redbeemedia.com