Verizon Communications has lit up new video-focused Web startpages for FiOS TV subs powered by Synacor that sport simplified looks and integrate a set of new video search and discovery features and a glance at what’s trending.
Two new startpages are launching in parallel – a Watch FiOS site that essentially serves as a TV Everywhere search and discovery area across live, VOD and authenticated TV Everywhere content, and a Trending site that feeds in news and information, with a particular emphasis on embedded online video. The Watch FiOS area breaks down information by what’s on live TV now, the most popular shows, suggestions, and access to Verizon’s electronic sell-through service.
Verizon ended the third quarter with 5.5 million TV subs.
Synacor, a company that specializes in Web startup pages and TV Everywhere authentication systems, said the new portals are representative of its new design and the thrust of a major effort to improve the overall user experience of its customized startpages. The new products also incorporate Synacor’s “PowerPlay” search and discovery/metadata products.
Following initial pilot rollouts late last year, the new sites are now fully deployed. Synacor is now looking to deploy its new startpage platforms with the rest of its customers in the first half of 2015, Himesh Bhise, Synacor's recently named CEO, said.
The new sites, which tie into an expanded relationship between Synacor and Verizon, are also “mobile responsive,” meaning that the pages are accessible on browsers running on smartphones and tablets, he added.
Synacor also powers customer startpages for customers such as Atlantic Broadband, Armstrong, Cable One, CenturyLink Communications, Mediacom Communications, Suddenlink Communications, and WideOpenWest. Charter Communications, another Synacor client, has opted to take its Web portal in-house.
