Parks Associates recently forecast that by the end of 2013, connected TVs will be present in 32 per cent of all Western European homes. By 2016 this is expected to have risen to 54 per cent – and when you consider how “new” this technology is, such adoption rates really should make industries such as advertising stand up and take notice.

When you look at the capabilities of these platforms it’s easy to understand why – connected TVs provide the opportunity for users to engage with content in ways previously unheard of on these screens. Users can download apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Player, get recommendations for the discovery of new TV shows and search for existing shows and connect to other viewers online. Read more »

In today’s highly connected society, successful brands need to stand out from the crowd. More and more, brands are looking for opportunities to create meaningful consumer connections and are using branded content to increase engagement, reach new audiences and convert immersive brand experiences into ROI.

Combining advertising and entertainment, interactive ads and branded content have been developed and implemented by a range of leading brands – take Saturday’s Shazam-enabled Argos advert during X Factor, or Mercedes’ interactive twitter ad that allowed consumers to direct content they saw on the screen. Everyone from M&S to Chipotle is looking to leverage this new method of addressing consumers in some form – incidentally, the latter recently won the first ever branded content Grand Prix Award at the Cannes Lions Festival.  Read more »