Content Unification: A Trend Reshaping the iTV Ecosystem

Abstract

Changes in the viewer’s habits, such as getting linear and nonlinear content, anytime and anywhere, are reshaping the behaviors of watching TV. In this context, many commercial stakeholders, of both Managed Operated Networks (MON) and Over-the-Top solutions (OTT), have been offering new content unification features supported by innovative user interfaces, including natural language interaction, to turn the TV viewing experience more pleasurable and engaging. Beyond the providers’ commercial interests of preserving their walled gardens, the need for retention of customers is pushing channels, operators and OTT players to match each other’s offers. Solutions are multiplying on leading services towards a personalized experience that aggregates several sources of content in the same interface, enriched with emergent interaction models such as voice control. Such industry trends, paired with empirical academic research, support the development of new unification-based UI solutions, that promise to have a central role in the future of the TV.