{"article_title":"ABC soups up online video player","category_id":"7","article_date":"2012-10-23","article_summary":"<p>LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC.com is souping up its full-episode broadband player with new features for the fall.Among the bells and whistles set for <\/p>","article_content":"<p><img title=\"Image: http:\/\/www.myvivvo.com\/thumbnail.php?file=abc_809145243.jpg&amp;size=article_medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myvivvo.com\/thumbnail.php?file=abc_809145243.jpg&amp;size=article_medium\" alt=\"ABC soups up online video player\" \/><\/p>\n<div>LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC.com is souping up its full-episode broadband player with new features for the fall.<br \/><br \/>Among the bells and whistles set for the broadcaster's online destination are full-screen viewing, closed captioning and the ability to send video links that can be embedded on blogs and social networks.<br \/><br \/>\"Having come out of the gate with the first player in the space, we're continually looking at how we expand and provide a better experience from our users,\" said Alexis Rapo, vp digital media at ABC Entertainment.<br \/><br \/>ABC.com was the first full-episode player online when it launched in 2006, and as of April, it is the dominant one: Its 8.9 million unique users was tops for the month among broadcasters, according to Nielsen Online. ABC.com also leads in minutes spent per user.<br \/><br \/>The user interface has been redesigned with new navigation and search features that allow users to comb series offerings graphically, alphabetically, by genre or popularity. Also added: content recommendation technology that suggests programs based on a viewer's choices.<br \/><br \/>Although ABC.com previously contained the video to a browser window, the improved player will allow the image to take up the entire monitor. The viewer also will have the option of choosing from a variety of screen sizes, as well as picking standard or high definition.<br \/><br \/>Users also can send links that can be posted elsewhere online, where they can launch cued to a particular scene mid-episode. Video on ABC.com also will be more easy to sift through, with thumbnail images that offer a glimpse of the story line progression in each episode.<br \/><br \/>The new player will be tested in a closed beta over the summer before launching ahead of ABC's premiere week in the fall. ABC.com uses technology from Move Networks for its player.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","modified_by":null,"modified":"2014-08-21 17:01:09","id":"76"}