NEW YORK—Viewers can now rep C-SPAN with pride, as the 24/7 government-centric network is now offering a variety of branded merchandise through a website that it developed with technology company Connekt.

Connekt seeks to activate smarter TV experiences through ads, content and commerce. In its partnership with C-SPAN, Connek created a website for an online store that sells C-SPAN memorabilia, which includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and mugs as part of the network’s celebration of 40 years on air. There is also specific merchandise for popular C-SPAN shows, like “American History TV,” “BookTV” and “The Washington Journal”; it will also carry the latest C-SPAN publication: “The Presidents: Noted Historians Rank America’s Best—and Worst—Chief Executives.”

Throughout the year, Connekt plans to distribute additional C-SPAN book releases, including “The Senate: An Enduring Foundation of Democracy” and the 2019 Congressional Directory.

See what C-SPAN has to offer at c-spanstore.org.

SAN FRANCISCO--Connekt, a Silicon Valley-based provider of ecommerce and smart TV technology, has been awarded a patent for its proprietary technology, enabling audiences to research and purchase items viewed on TV and video. The patented technology is already in use by top consumer brands, TV networks and their agencies.

Connekt’s patent allows viewers to interact with and purchase items showcased on TV, in real time. When an ad is displayed on screen, viewers can purchase directly via a wide array of devices, such as remote controls, phones and voice-activated assistants.

“With unprecedented levels of connectivity in the home, consumers now have the ability to engage and transact securely with content across devices, and brands have new ways to interact with them,” said David Rudnick, CTO of Connekt. “Our patent uniquely simplifies interactive TV buying by converging video advertising, content and commerce practices.”

The platform-based SaaS solutions patent enables brands to safely conduct commerce on video to increase revenue. Partners across verticals have already seen their TV investments become more targeted, engaging, transactable and measurable, the company said.

“Connekt’s patented technology is allowing us to create smarter video and TV ad experiences for our brands,” said Bre Rossetti, SVP, Director Strategy & Innovation from Havas Media. "With an unparalleled market offering, Connekt’s platform helps us provide rich, detailed insights - backed by data - about consumer viewing habits to help our clients make more informed buying decisions.”

With Connekt’s new patent, it’s now possible for audiences to discover and purchase the specific brand of tennis racket a world-class tennis player is using during any given match. Similarly, if a TV ad for pizza appears during a college football game, audiences are now able to initiate an order through the remote or voice control.

Connekt’s clients include LG, Sony, Nielsen, ABC, CBS, Showtime, each of the agency holding companies, and dozens of brands, like Chipotle, Eli Lilly, P&G and Target.

Connekt recently announced an initiative to add "Buy Now" buttons to Sony smart TV and is working with Verance to develop ecommerce apps for ATSC 3.0 (aka Next Gen TV)

SAN FRANCISCO--Connekt, a Bay Area developer of AI technology, has partnered with Verance, an ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV platform company, to develop the standard for interactive advertising formats to be delivered over ATSC 3.0.

Their stated goal is to provide an end-to-end solution for networks, content owners and programmers to build and deliver a next-generation, onscreen experience with enhanced engagement and interactivity over ATSC 3.0, provide an easy ATSC 3.0 transition for networks, and open up new revenue streams and consumer experiences on television.

Leveraging Verance Aspect watermark technology, Connekt will be able to deliver enhanced ads across all devices and distribution paths, including ATSC 1.0 and 3.0 Over-the-Air (OTA), Over-the-Top (OTT) and Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPD), such as cable, satellite and telco services.

“As TV revenue models shift, Connekt provides technical solutions, tools and applications to allow networks, content owners and advertisers to retain and grow new revenue streams,” said Mike Fitzsimmons, CEO of Connekt. “We are paving the way for the future of broadcast TV advertising, and Verance is the ideal partner for this collaboration.”

[Read: LG Completes Smart TV Tests Of Verance Watermarking Tech]

In November 2017, the FCC voted to allow the rollout of ATSC 3.0, which uses both OTA signals and in-home broadband to deliver video on demand, interactive services, 4K video, advanced emergency alerts, and other dynamic broadcast capabilities. 

“ATSC 3.0 will allow us to bridge the consumer experience gap between linear and IP delivered TV content,” said Eric Anderson, Verance’s chief partnership officer. “At the same time, Verance Aspect offers programmers, agencies and brands an open market, open standards-based platform to ensure scalability and ROI for Next Gen TV experiences and enhanced advertising. We’re looking forward to working with Connekt to create and drive these compelling consumer experiences.”

For a comprehensive list of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see our ATSC3 silo.

SAN FRANCISCO—How nice would it have been if you could have gotten your Christmas shopping done with a simple push on your TV remote? That would be something of interest to 76 percent of Americans according to a t-commerce study from Connekt.

The report showed that those three-quarters of respondents had a strong interest in shopping through their TVs in real time if the option was available. Of those interested, 65 percent would purchase products shown in TV ads, while 35 percent would be inclined to purchase products featured in TV shows.

Currently, the biggest obstacle might be letting people know that this technology is actually available. A majority of respondents (78 percent) said they were not familiar with technology that enables them to buy products using a TV remote. Still, there is a growing interest in t-commerce; 42 percent of those surveyed said they will likely buy products through their TV in 2018.

Among the top reasons for people’s reason is convenience, according to 74 percent of the respondents. The ability to buy right when they see a product they liked came in second at 66 percent. The ability to use a new technology and shopping from a comfortable setting also were popular options.

As far as what people want to buy off of their TVs, household goods came in at 76 percent, followed by consumer electronics at 67 percent, clothing with 47 percent, and home and garden with 44 percent.

Some holiday shopping this year has already been done through Connekt’s ShopTVTM application, with the top shopped categories coming in as consumer electronics, home accessories, fashion accessories, automotive, hobbies and toys, sports merchandise and wellness.