More than a half century after its introduction, television is once again a “status” symbol in Atlantic Canada.
Telecom company Bell Aliant today introduced a free Facebook app for its FibreOP TV service that will enable its more than 70,000 subscribers to access some of the social media tool’s most popular features – including viewing news feeds, posting status messages and notes, and viewing photo albums – via their television.
Andre LeBlanc, vice-president of residential product for Bell Aliant in Halifax, said the service was introduced in response to a growing consumer trend of simultaneous TV and internet use.
According to a recent survey by the research firm Ovum, 74% of TV viewers with broadband access use the internet at the same time they are watching TV, while 38% discuss TV shows while using social media.
“We’re bringing the best of Facebook to TV without taking over the TV,” said LeBlanc. “It’s not meant to replace the hardcore stuff like chat, which you’re going to want to do on your tablet or PC.”
The FibreOP Facebook service can accommodate up to 10 Facebook accounts per household, which are accessible via an on-screen menu. It occupies an “L” shaped space at the side and bottom of the screen, and features a virtual keyboard if users wish to post updates or send messages.
Atlantic Canada is a hotbed for Facebook use, with recent data from comScore MediaMetrix indicating that 87.5% of internet users in the region use the social media application – higher than the national average of 83.3%.
Bell Aliant is promoting the service in a series of TV, radio and print ads created by Extreme Group that feature FibreOP customers talking about what they love about the service.
Media for the campaign was handled by Halifax-based Time + Space.
