ONLINE CHANNELS:
Boat Rocker Media has developed Orphan Black: The Game, the first interactive digital adventure based on the critically-acclaimed Space television series now entering its fifth and final season. Available on the App Store, the game takes players into the cloning conspiracy world of Orphan Black, challenging them to escape from traps and treacherous scenarios.
Groupe Média TFO has signed a partnership to launch Qwant Junior in Canada, a search engine specifically designed for kids 6-12. Qwant Junior, developed in partnership with the French Ministry of Education, doesn’t retain search history or track users and filters out search results that can lead to inappropriate content such as pornography, violence or drugs. The decision to work with Qwant will enable Groupe Média TFO to extend its presence beyond Canada providing French digital and educational content to an international audience.
Twitter is monetizing its Periscope video streaming service with ads set to run ahead of high-profile live video to start, such as sporting events. Would-be Periscope advertisers must be part of Twitter’s Amplify program, which matches advertisers and video publishers. The ads will be varied lengths with the ability to skip longer ones, but will run over live-streaming content.
Facebook has rolled out Stories on its mobile apps on iOS and Android. The feature includes a redesigned in-app camera, a Stories feed at the top of News Feed, and a private messaging feature called Direct. Facebook initially introduced its version of Snapchat stories on Instagram in August.
The MightyTV app has been shut down after being acquired by Spotify. The app suggested new shows to users based on right or left swipes. MightyTV CEO and founder Brian Adams will join Spotify as VP of technology, while MightyTV’s eight staff will be spread out across Spotify’s offices in Toronto, NYC and Stockholm. It’s not clear how Spotify plans to use MightyTV’s technology.
CBC Music, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), The JUNO Awards, SOCAN and the Department of Canadian Heritage have partnered on a new interactive virtual platform called CanadaSound. Canadians can upload, post or send their favourite homegrown sounds to the site to inspire artists countrywide to create new, distinctly Canadian songs. As more material is submitted, the database will offer professionally curated sounds to all Canadian musicians, including SOCAN’s creators and publishers. The most dynamic tracks will be made available as a downloadable digital album, with a portion of the proceeds going to MusiCounts. On Canada Day, listeners can tune in to a special broadcast on CBC Radio with host Grant Lawrence, who will dig into some of the stories behind the sounds shared from across the country.
