TORONTO – Ethnic video streamer JumpTV has launched a live chat feature on all of its live channels and pay per view events broadcast on JumpTV.com. The new chat feature provides a new way for JumpTV users to share live television with viewers from around the world.
JumpTV is a leading distributor of ethnic television over the Internet. With over 290 channels from 70-plus countries, the company delivers full-screen news, sports and entertainment content on a real-time basis from all corners of the globe to its subscribers, who live in over 100 countries.
In the near future, the live chat functionality will also be part of the company’s applications programming interface (API), or "Jumper", which allows for distribution of JumpTV’s live-streaming channels to web sites other than www.JumpTV.com.
"The inclusion of live chat on the JumpTV platform gives customers from around the world who share common national or cultural roots the opportunity to connect with each other discussing, commenting, laughing and debating, in real-time, popular entertainment, sporting events and breaking news," says the press release.
"The new chat feature, with each thread tied to an individual channel’s broadcast, allows people across the globe to connect immediately with others who are living outside of their home country," explained Brian Adams, group head of product development and engineering for JumpTV, "We are already seeing dynamic usage of the live chat tool and we are confident that this feature will increase the ‘stickiness’ of JumpTV and contribute to viral, word of mouth, growth in our traffic. Plus it’s fun and engaging."
JumpTV is focused on introducing additional community and interactive elements throughout 2007. As an example, in the near future, the company intends to launch a content-rating system and a customer re-selling program.
"In anticipation of our free-to-consumer, ad-supported launch for much of our content in the United States, we are introducing functionality both on our retail website of www.JumpTV.com and, more importantly, on our Jumper API," added Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, president and COO. "The Jumper supports a dramatic expansion in usage which we believe will position JumpTV to generate commensurate advertising revenue."
