HISTORY(R), Verizon FiOS and Delivery Agent Launch T-Commerce Initiative with the New HISTORY Shop App
Verizon FiOS TV Customers Now Able to Purchase Products
Directly from HISTORY Using a TV Remote Control
New York, NY, San Francisco, CA -December 5, 2011 - The long-anticipated age of commerce within television programming has arrived. HISTORY, Verizon Communications Inc., and Delivery Agent, Inc., the leader in multi-channel commerce for entertainment, jointly announce the first contextual commerce application accessible to network programming viewers.
Verizon FiOS TV subscribers will have 24/7 access to the new HISTORY Shop application that enables them to watch A+E Network's HISTORY channel and use their remote control to purchase merchandise related to and seen on hit series such as Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers and more.
Built by Delivery Agent and tested in Verizon's labs and in-home trials, this t-commerce shopping platform taps into Delivery Agent's proprietary database of products mapped to television content in order to present the right products at the right time. For example, while watching Pawn Stars, customers can use their FiOS TV remote controls to click to purchase a wide range of brands and products including: classic bikes from Schwinn, vintage inspired consumer electronics from Crosley, Civil War and presidential memorabilia from The Franklin Mint, as well as the complete show season on DVD.
"The HISTORY Shop application is an exciting first, because it enables viewers to see and buy things at the moment they're most interested - while their favorite shows are on screen," said Mark Garner, Senior Vice President, Distribution Business Development, Analytics & Marketing for A+E Networks. "This is a great convenience for HISTORY fans and a great selling opportunity for us. And, since we're selling many of the same products on TV that we offer online - and already know our viewers love - we're confident they are going to enjoy this new way to shop."
To access the new application, viewers watching HISTORY programming click on the HISTORY icon that will appear on the TV screen. The application displays shopping items for the customer to view and purchase on the right hand side of the TV screen while the television program runs on the left. Viewers can then use their remote control to purchase items and securely check out using Delivery Agent's TV Wallet(TM) - the transaction engine used by the top media companies. Viewers also can access the HISTORY Shop application through the FiOS TV Application Storefront under the Featured and Shopping categories. HISTORY is available for FiOS TV customers on channels 128 in standard-definition and 628 in high-definition.
"FiOS TV is a highly innovative and interactive service that puts technology in viewers' hands to enhance and transform their home-entertainment experiences," said Rachelle Zoffer, Director, Content Acquisition and Programming for Verizon. "Our strategic partnership with A+E Networks and Delivery Agent breaks down old technology barriers and frees subscribers to access products they want in new and exciting ways."
Monetizing content for more than 40 leading television programmers, Delivery Agent operates and manages the online stores for more than 350 television shows and has secured the rights to market and sell more than one million products connected to television content, including A+E Network's shows. With this HISTORY t-commerce initiative, Verizon, Delivery Agent and A+E Networks are beginning the migration of the network's online shopping experiences to include the television.
"The technology advancements driving this ground-breaking television commerce initiative are extraordinary," said Mike Fitzsimmons, Delivery Agent CEO. "This is the first time anyone has successfully aligned the goals and requirements of the three essential players in contextual
television commerce; the entertainment television programmer, the television service provider and the brands/products seen in entertainment content. We're thrilled to have the solution that drives television commerce forward."
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About Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
About Delivery Agent, Inc.
Delivery Agent, Inc., named #1 Privately Held Media Company by Inc. Magazine and #3 on the Deloitte & Touche Silicon Valley Technology Fast 50, is the leader in shopping-enabled programming and content monetization for more than 350 entertainment properties from major media companies including CBS, NBC Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, Discovery Communications, A&E Television Networks, HBO, Showtime, The CW, Univision Communications, and The Weinstein Company, as well as for sports organizations including FIFA, the Boston Celtics and UFC. Delivery Agent created the market for shopping-enabled programming by redefining how products tied to entertainment are cataloged, merchandised and sold online. With offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Denver and London, Delivery Agent deploys its technology platform, including commerce applications, video and mobile products, and interactive advertising solutions to create profitable connections between entertainment content, consumers and brands. More information about Delivery Agent is available at www.deliveryagent.com.
About HISTORY(R)
HISTORY(R) and HISTORY(R) HD are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network's program offerings are hit series such as American Pickers, Ax Men, American Restoration, Ice Road Truckers, Top Gear, Pawn Stars and Top Shot, as well as acclaimed specials including Gettysburg, America the Story of Us, WWII in HD, 102 Minutes That Changed America and Life After People. HISTORY has earned four Peabody Awards, 11 Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take a Veteran to School Day is the network's signature initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. The HISTORY website, located at www.history.com, is the leading online resource for all things history, featuring over 20,000 videos, images, audio clips, articles and interactive features that allow visitors to dig deeper into a broad range of thousands of historical topics.
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