Fox Buys Into 2nd Screen Provider ACTV8

Fox has taken an equity stake in interactive television technology provider ACTV8, which will deploy multiple interactive second-screen TV experiences for the network.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will “ACTV8” several of Fox’s primetime series, beginning with the New Girl second screen app, which is available on iTunes App Store for iPhones and will be available on iPad and Android platforms in the coming weeks. Through these apps, viewers can interact during the live broadcast of their favorite Fox shows in a number of ways, including chatting in real time, earning badges by watching and answering episodic trivia.

ACTV8.me Founder-CEO Brian Shuster said: “Fox has a reputation for bold, groundbreaking programming and for progressive thinking in the digital space. Our goal with Fox is to deploy and nurture new, really compelling interactive and social features that enhance the overall television entertainment experience and ultimately grow audience viewership.”

Bill Bradford, SVP of digital media for Fox Broadcasting Co., said: “Forming deeper and more relevant relationships with our audience is a key priority at Fox. We’re always looking for new ways to enhance the viewing experience for our audience with rich, engaging interactive content, and we think ACTV8.me is an ideal partner to help us achieve that.”