The social app for TV content Miso has just raised $4 million in new funding from Khosla Ventures, with existing investors Google Ventures and Hearst Interactive Media participating in the round. This brings Miso’s total funding to $6 million.
Similar to GetGlue, Tunerfish and others, Miso launched as a check-in app for television content. The idea behind Miso is that as you watch TV shows and movies, users can check-in to this content, follow specific shows and earn points and badges for interacting with this content. Miso offers iPhone, iPad and Android apps for users on the go as well as a web app.
But more recently Miso has gone beyond the check-in to offer a social experience related to content. Miso launched an app gallery, ratings, a chatter stream, and a user generated platform for people to create questions for each other about content.
Another way that Miso has been innovating in the space is by partnering with cable companies to help create a more unique second screen experience. For example, Miso teamed up with DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse to allow its app to communicate with the TV receiver to let viewers know what’s on their TV at the moment and where they are in the show.
Other partnerships relate to content. Miso collaborated with Showtime’s Dexter to give users tidbits, facts, quotes, and more when viewers watch the show.
Miso’s founder Somrat Niyogi tells us that the company’s strategy focuses on trying to figure out how to work with existing ecosystem partners. “They need help figuring out their second screen strategy, and we can be that partner.”
Of course, Niyogi has a realistic view of the competitiveness in the social TV space, adding that Most recently, TV recommendations startup BeeTV hit the deadpool. “I believe there will be a lot of consolidation in the space in the coming year, and we are preparing to be the leader,” he explains.
Niyogi is excited to be working with Vinod Khosla and the team to help grow Miso from its current user base of 250,000 members (up from 100,000 in January). The new funding will be used towards new partnerships and expanding the company’s technology team.
Source:http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/khosla-google-ventures-and-hearst-put-4m-in-social-tv-platform-miso/
Similar to GetGlue, Tunerfish and others, Miso launched as a check-in app for television content. The idea behind Miso is that as you watch TV shows and movies, users can check-in to this content, follow specific shows and earn points and badges for interacting with this content. Miso offers iPhone, iPad and Android apps for users on the go as well as a web app.
But more recently Miso has gone beyond the check-in to offer a social experience related to content. Miso launched an app gallery, ratings, a chatter stream, and a user generated platform for people to create questions for each other about content.
Another way that Miso has been innovating in the space is by partnering with cable companies to help create a more unique second screen experience. For example, Miso teamed up with DIRECTV and AT&T U-Verse to allow its app to communicate with the TV receiver to let viewers know what’s on their TV at the moment and where they are in the show.
Other partnerships relate to content. Miso collaborated with Showtime’s Dexter to give users tidbits, facts, quotes, and more when viewers watch the show.
Miso’s founder Somrat Niyogi tells us that the company’s strategy focuses on trying to figure out how to work with existing ecosystem partners. “They need help figuring out their second screen strategy, and we can be that partner.”
Of course, Niyogi has a realistic view of the competitiveness in the social TV space, adding that Most recently, TV recommendations startup BeeTV hit the deadpool. “I believe there will be a lot of consolidation in the space in the coming year, and we are preparing to be the leader,” he explains.
Niyogi is excited to be working with Vinod Khosla and the team to help grow Miso from its current user base of 250,000 members (up from 100,000 in January). The new funding will be used towards new partnerships and expanding the company’s technology team.
Source:http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/khosla-google-ventures-and-hearst-put-4m-in-social-tv-platform-miso/
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