BackChannelMedia and Gray Television Announce Clickable TV Broadcast Group Agreement
Monday, 09 February 2009 00:00

Technology Built for Digital Broadcast and Cable Providers Links TV Content to the Internet with One Click of the Remote

BOSTON, MA (February 9, 2009) BackChannelMedia, an interactive TV technology provider, announced today that Gray Television (NYSE: GTN), a television broadcast company based in Atlanta, has signed an agreement for the Gray Television station group to deploy the BackChannelMedia Clickable TV solution. Gray Televisions 36 local broadcast TV stations combined reach is approximately 7 million U.S. households (6.2% of U.S. homes) and BackChannelMedia will deploy the opt-in Clickable TV technology on a per station basis until reaching full deployment in all Gray Television stations. This expands BackChannelMedia's deployment roster to 68 television stations reaching approximately 16.7% of U.S. television households.

Participating viewers will be prompted to interact by small, non-intrusive icons (sometimes referred to as bugs) located at the bottom of their TV screen. These on screen icons indicate a œclickable moment, an opportunity for the viewer to click one button on their remote control and bookmark that content to the viewer's private web portal or email address. This secure web portal, accessible through any Web browser, serves as a centralized hub of that viewers digital TV media interests. Users of Clickable TV can schedule automatic e-mail updates of TV bookmarks to any e-mail account or e-mail-enabled mobile device.

The Clickable TV solution works through over the air digital broadcast and other providers, including cable and satellite. This new interactive opt-in revenue stream for broadcasters unites the mass media reach of TV with the precise engagement metrics of the Internet. As viewers interact and opt-in with Clickable Moments, Gray Television and its advertisers will collect valuable data on viewer interaction, which in time brings valuable engagement metrics to the advertiser for both live and time-shifted programming. This new advertising and content inventory created by the clickable moment allows TV stations to sell advertising avails on a per click basis in addition to impression based TV commercials. Clickable TV was designed with consumer privacy in mind, is free from behavioral targeting, provides consumers with the control to manage their opt-in data, and is spam and click fraud free.

"We spent several months researching the technical feasibility and consumer appeal of BackChannelMedia's clickable television," said Robert S. Prather, Jr., president of Gray Television. "We are excited by the prospects of utilizing our digital spectrum to not only potentially launch a new revenue stream but also to engage our viewers in such a powerful way."

Were confident that our interactive technology will help prepare Gray Television for the new digital age of television, provide their viewers with a useful and enjoyable experience, and help their advertisers connect with viewers in new ways, said Michael Kokernak, co-CEO, BackChannelMedia.

Clickable TV became a reality upon the launch of our market trials in May 2008, said Dan Hassan, Co-CEO, BackChannelMedia. The response from consumers has been overwhelmingly positive and our partnership with Gray will further speed the rollout of Clickable TV to consumers."


About Gray Television

Gray Television, Inc. is a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Gray currently operates 36 television stations serving 30 markets. Each of the stations are affiliated with either CBS (17 stations), NBC (10 stations), ABC (8 stations) or FOX (1 station). In addition, Gray currently operates 39 digital second channels including 1 ABC, 5 Fox, 7 CW and 16 MyNetworkTV affiliates plus 8 local news/weather channels and 2 "independent" channels in certain of its existing markets. For more information please visit www.gray.tv


About BackChannelMedia

BackChannelMedia's Clickable TV launched on the air May 1, 2008 and deployment is currently underway at five TV stations, representing three broadcast station groups, as follows: WCVB ABC 5 (Hearst-Argyle) Boston, MA; WMUR ABC 9 (Hearst-Argyle); WJAR NBC 10 (Media General) Providence, RI; WTNH ABC 8 (LIN Television) New Haven, CT; WCTX MyTV 59 (LIN Television) New Haven, CT. BackChannelMedia has also previously reached agreements to deploy throughout all LIN Television and Gray Television stations. Combined with Fisher Communications, Clickable TV will be deployed at 81 stations and markets, representing an audience reach of 20.6% of the United States.