A couple weeks ago, I went to a hotel suite in Manhattan to get a demo of BuddyTV’s new iPhone app, which hit the app store a few days ago. In the video above, CTO Bill Baxter takes me through the main features. He shows me on an iPad for easier viewing, but the app is for the iPhone and soon Android. It combines a viewing guide on your iPhone, with social features like chat and being able to broadcast what shows you are watching to Facebook and Twitter. But it also suggests shows for you to watch that are airing now, upcoming, trending, or on your favorites list. The app works with Google TVs, and eventually will be able to act as a remote with tablets and phones that sport an IR transmitter. → Read More
BuddyTV, home to one of the web’s largest television-oriented communities, has raised $6 million in Series B funding from Madrona Venture Group. This round brings BuddyTV’s total funding to over $9 million. BuddyTV aims to provide a comprehensive resource and community for television fans, serving up daily editorials, interviews, and discussions. Other features include a “Television Jockey” service, which allows users to stream video and audio live to other members as they share their thoughts on the latest TV events. In June 2007 BuddyTV raised $2.8 million in a round led by Gemstar-TV Guide. Competitors to BuddyTV include MeeVee, which was recently placed on Deadpool watch. We should note that previous rumors of BuddyTV’s acquisition by Comcast have proven to be false. CrunchBase Information BuddyTV MeeVee Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
An unconfirmed report has BuddyTV being acquired by Comcast. We’ve got requests for confirmation in with BuddyTV and are waiting for a response. Seattle based BuddyTV is a television focused content network with a team of dedicated entertainment writers producing content that is complemented by users. The company took $2.8 million from Gemstar-TV Guide in July. Comcast previously acquired Fandango, an online movie ticket selling company that also ran a entertainment guide called Fancast. If confirmed, it’s an interesting buy that fits more in the blogging acquisition space, placing the deal alongside the acquisitions of Weblogs Inc and more recently TreeHugger. Certainly BuddyTV’s mix of paid writers/ bloggers and user contributions highlights the value of content in a market where service/ product acquisitions usually get most of the press. More if and when we are able to confirm the deal. (via PC) → Read More
Seattle based BuddyTV (Advanced Media Research Group Inc.) has taken $2.8 million in Series A funding in a round led by Gemstar-TV Guide International. BuddyTV is a television focused content network with a team of dedicated entertainment writers producing content that is complemented by users. The service also provides broadcasting tools. See our previous coverage here on the space. NASDAQ listed Gemstar- TV Guide is best known in the United States for its TV Guide publication. Their involvement in the round is significant due to Gemstar – TV Guide’s background; this is a serious long term player in the television industry investing in a new media TV related startup. The expertise and depth of knowledge BuddyTV will now have access to should bide them well in an increasingly competitive vertical. (via PeHUB) → Read More