Comcast and Twitter Debut Innovative Social TV Tool “See It”

By Alex Weprin for Lost Remote

Comcast and Twitter have struck a deal that will take the relationship between TV and the social service to another level. The companies are debuting “See It” in November for Comcast Xfinity TV customers. If a Twitter user discovers or sees a tweet about a TV show or movie, the “See it” button on Twitter will let them tune to that channel on their TV, start it over on their TV, DVR the show, set a reminder to watch the show or order movie tickets through (Comcast-owned) Fandango.

The partnership is a significant step up from current deals between Twitter and media companies, which sometimes include videos embedded within tweets, or sponsored tweets. Comcast and Twitter say the system is designed to work with other companies’ systems, and they are talking to other companies about rolling it out. As part of the “See it” deal NBCUniversal has entered into an advertisement agreement with twitter through its “Amplify” program.

“See It is a simple yet powerful feature that creates an instant online remote control,” said Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation in a statement. “Comcast is taking a leap forward in social TV by enabling Twitter users to more easily find and view the shows they want to watch and discover new shows. Twitter complements the live viewing experience and is an ideal partner for Comcast and NBCUniversal.”

“Twitter is where television viewers come to talk about what they’re watching on TV when they’re watching it. Millions of users are exposed to the live conversation that unfolds on Twitter while a show is on the air and now, with See It, they’ll be able to tune in directly from a Tweet,” said Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter in a statement. “It’s a great example of Comcast’s leadership in bringing TV to new platforms.”

This is an excerpt. Click here to read the full article in Lost Remote.