The internet search engine blinkx http://www.blinkx.com, which specialises in video material, announced a cooperation agreement with British independent film provider Dogwoof http://www.dogwoof.com last Wednesday. The agreement aims to establish a dedicated IPTV film channel on the video portal, combining high-quality television content with the interactive possibilities of the internet in a bid to set new standards. The project, called blinkx BBTV, offers users a range of interesting options. For example, a process developed specially by blinkx automatically records the audio signals reproduced in films and creates a separate soundtrack from them. Users can then search for a particular scene or a specific word spoken in the film. The service also makes background information about actors, film characters, reviews and locations quickly and easily accessible.
“By merging films with the capabilities of the internet, blinkx BBTV allows its users to search the web for specific content and interact with online sources related to the films they are watching,” explains Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO of the platform. It makes no difference whether those sources are Google or Wikipedia, he says. “The film industry has long been waiting for a multi-layered film channel,” adds Andy Whittaker, CEO of Dogwoof. However, the new channel was developed primarily for internet users rather than the industry. “Ultimately, it is all about giving users the best possible viewing experience,” says Whittaker. After all, the project’s actual success will depend above all on whether users respond well to the new internet television channel.
blinkx BBTV aims to set new standards particularly in interactive functionality. In addition to the automatic audio-recording process already mentioned, linking to various online services offers users a range of previously unknown possibilities. With a simple click on the relevant button, they can call up all the information available online about the film they are watching. If a viewer is not quite sure where a film was shot, for example, the location can be displayed in Google Maps through a pop-up window.
blinkx BBTV also holds its own in terms of playback quality, with all video material on the internet television channel provided at television quality suitable for full-screen viewing. Because the interactive video channel’s film selection is focused more on the independent sector, however, users are unlikely to find Hollywood blockbusters there. According to the operators, the project already has around 250 partnerships with individual content providers. blinkx BBTV is available immediately through the video search engine’s web portal as a free 1.8-megabyte download.
