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Beck Announces Innovative Second Screen Technology That Will Allow Viewers to ‘Experiment With the Show Itself’

Jan. 8, 2013 7:15pm Liz Klimas

TheBlaze TV

How often do you sit in front of the TV with your phone or tablet in hand? Given the propensity of people to multitask while they’re watching a show — nearly 50 percent of people do it — “second screen technology” has slowly been emerging and it’s coming to TheBlaze TV.

As Glenn Beck put it in his announcement of the new tech on his show Tuesday evening, viewers will be able to watch the show normally on one screen and on another can “experiment with the show itself.”

“This isn’t just where you can pick from the shots, pick from the cameras,” Beck said. “I want you to be more than the cameraman.”

“It will allow you to watch the show as if you were in the studio.”

With the tech you would be able to poke around TheBlaze TV studios instead of just watching Beck himself. If you needed to learn more about what is being discussed on the show, you could pause, find out more and could even pull up, say, a list of related books or other videos.

“This gives you control of the news and information,” he said. Beck explains:

But that’s not even as cool as it gets. Beck went on in the show to talk about “the brain,” a concept he has worked on for the last five years. It’s an application of the technology, an “edit bay,” that will let you save and share things that you liked from shows on TheBlaze TV.

If there’s a specific segment you wanted to share, you would simply use second screen to make a clip of the content you wanted and save it into “the brain.” From there you would be able to share it on various social media sites or via email.

Relatively speaking, second screen technology is so far limited in its use, but industry experts expect it to boom. The sporting industry has readily adopted it. Here’s more on how it will be used in the coming year in that capacity from Active8Social:

Stadiums around the world are frantically ramping up Wi-Fi bandwidth and implementing equipment to display relevant social media. This will encourage fans to interact with other fans online while at the game. For example, Sporting Kansas City’s stadium offers over 200 Wi-Fi hot spots and a 550 square feet HD video board that fans can interact with through Twitter. Fans can also download the Sporting Explore app to view in-game content, play trivia, or “check-in” to earn credits that can be used towards in-stadium and online purchases.

CBS recently released its second screen Connect app to engage its audiences based on the show they’re watching, and last year Comcast and NBC invested in the Zeebox app which would allow for similar engagement as well.

It’s clear why the sports and television industries are picking up on second screen apps. A study by Neilson found that 45 percent of Americans use a smartphone or tablet while they’re also watching TV. Although at this time most people are just checking email, usage trends are shifting. Some use it to engage with content on the TV or to look up information related to the show or a commercial. Adoption of second screen technology will only make these actions easier.

When would second screen technology become active for TheBlaze TV? Beck said on the show sometime within the next 12 months.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (27)

kritacul
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 8:23am
Glenn you guys and The Blaze NEED to get on DirecTv. You have a MASSIVE audience of people waiting for you to come to that service. I know you have a deal with Dish, but DirecTv would almost double your audience.

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searching for the Truth
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:13pm
Neat.

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Rockyracoon
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 7:04am
Android please. Working on all these projects is great but I have been writing in for android support since the launch. If you are Apple only by next October I will not renew my subscription.

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- Copper Catfish
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:21pm
  You would drop your subscription if they don’t cater to you alone?
  Is that you, Mr. President?
  
  Report this comment
truthhasno
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:03am
Proposed new Features – A Sure fire hit for those that follow the instructions and
“DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH”
This is exactly the features Ive been needing for ages
at the moment I have two screens on my computer
the Big Wide screen for watching the blazetv and a smaller one for bringing up all the info as Glenn
Talks
I also use my Android Pad, and android phone to look up all the info presented in the show
and DO MY OWN RESEARCH
This is going to make the task of doing my own research a snip
Thanks to the Team at american dream labs
Awesome!

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- steelpanther
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 1:31pm
  How, it looks like it’s nothing more then choosing your own camera to look out of. And if they do help you do “research” which you can do on your own with a search bar, it’ll be their vetted stuff. There’s a reason why the only things that show up on the feed are msg.s that pat everyone on the back.
  
  I know, I tried to do something as simple as bring up the ESRB when they where talking about the video games again. You’d think if you where trying to educate people on video games, you’d at min let someone else tell them how to see the content of them.
  
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ej_57
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 11:31pm
I plan to subscribe just for this feature! I especially like the feature that enables referencing sources and it’s fun to take a look at the support people who help make it happen.

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- Restored One
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 11:46pm
  As a faithful Glenn follower (thank God for Dish)…..The thing that I saw as a weakness toniight (not the technology and idea, looks Fab), it was when he said that he has or we have basically given him money and he has spent “gobs” of it on all of this. That is fine, but I dont think he phrased it well, the subject of money in that segment sounded a little to relevant to our Govt, he may want to think about that in the future, because if I caught that….you know that Media Matters will certainly pick up on the comments hypocrisy.
  
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Bikkiboo
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 10:25pm
I like the planned feature where you can jump to more information on the topic being discussed. This is like the side bar features in some books where more info is added. I worry about the other feature where we can look around the studio. This means we’re not paying attention to what is being said. I’m already looking around my home during the show. Or, I’m reading the paper too or doing a crossword, sewing, etc. If I also can look around the studio, I REALLY won’t be paying attention to what is being said!!! Of course, I do r e a l l y want to know where they got the “skylight” ceiling in the NYC studio. I’d really check that out!

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ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 10:19pm
So this is exactly like the Smart Glass technology which Microsoft has had shipping for a while? Guess in all his self promotion he forgot to mention that.

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- TheWhiteFalcon
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:09am
  He actually pointed out that it’s like Nintendo TVii, which it is.
  
  Smart Glass is a turd.
  
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Guitar Master
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 9:19pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Glenn Beck and his two stooges blasted Alex Jones on his radio program today. I ask, why?

Glenn Beck stated many, many times that the far left, (Communists) always make fun of and demean those who speak the truth. It’s the way they destroy the credibility of those that speak the truth.

I have been a keen supporter of Glenn Beck but NO MORE. He’s a hypocrite because he did today, on his show, exactly what he accused the Communists of doing. He demeaned and poked fun at Alex Jones for his appearance on CNN. Beck is too busy promoting his own business and, literally, getting rich on his fans. Beck hasn’t take a true stand on one single issue.

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- Restored One
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 11:39pm
  I have been and will continue to follow Glenn, but Mr Guitar, I totally agree with you on the Alex Jones thing. I did not know who Alex Jones was until Glenn and the guys went off on him this AM. As well as in the PM program. I thought during the PM broadcast that Glenn was trying to take the wind out of Mr Jones sail, because Glenn himself does not have the balls to appear on any show other than O’Reilly. Glenn got burned on the View and the Today show and has not done any MSM since. Should he do MSM interviews, maybe not, but for him to attack those who have very similar views as him who do go on MSM, maybe he should keep his mouth shut.
  
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- TheWhiteFalcon
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:10am
  Jones is a nutcase, though. Maybe it’s not the nicest thing to point that out, but while he did make his case last night, he should have realized that the few lemmings that watch Piers aren’t listening.
  
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- Tretka
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:06pm
  I was shocked at how ALL the conservative media in the last few days have turned on Alex Jones. Stu and Pat really ripped him today. I commented to several that I wonder why there is this assault on Alex Jones? He is very easy to make fun of and I get it, but why? They did it to Breitbart and sorry Blaze, but they did it to Glenn too, so why do this to Alex? Explain?
  
  I was thinking that conservative outlets want to publicly distance themselves from Alex because of his Pierz Morgan bit the other day. What else do you think Alex would do when he has the chance to confront the goof that is Pierz Morgan? At least he was consistent.
  
  However, I have long known I can’t watch Alex. I read his website but I am sorry he is just so intense and hysterical. And I give him 50/50 for his content. Alex needs to figure out what Breitbart (rest his soul) did, which is to figure out how to TRULY expose the truth. Pick your battles and show no mercy in the pursuit-but use stealth. You can not call Alex stealthy-he goes off like a bomb everyday.
  
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- SanDiegoCountyCitizen
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 2:15am
  I like AJs firebrand, and we need someone reporting the fringes, but he loses some significant credability by being duped into 911 conspiracy BS. The US govt. Has plenty of skeltons in the closet, but blowing up their own building in NY on 9/11 is not one of them.
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:57pm
Yeah, like YOU really subscribe and watch him.

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bava
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:43pm
Beck announces. That’s like Apple announces or Microsoft announces. I guess he invented it. What a POS full of himself.

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Kathleen3
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:36pm
Beck could introduce technology equivalent to that incorporated in the 60s and I would still prefer tuning in to his shows vs the insulting propaganda featured on every other available channel.

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- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:45pm
  I associate the words ‘insulting propaganda’ with Glenn Beck as well.
  
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spirited
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:14pm
Second screen? Sounds good.

How about a split screen of live events and chat; so no back and forth?
Also, how about a live chat allowing posts without having to twitter or facebook….
and not interrupting hearing Scott Baker?

>That would be sweeeet!

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- BigSky
  Posted on January 8, 2013 at 10:22pm
  Chat scrolling on the TV screen is distracting.
  
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soybomb315_II
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:13pm
i liked ron paul but i would never watch him on a daily basis or spend hours looking into the things he tells me to look into. makes me wonder who the bots really are

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RoDogg
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 8:07pm
I REALLY hope dreamlabs will have a jobs board type place where people like his listeners and readers have a chance to be a part of this and make a difference?

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TJexcite
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:46pm
Just hope that those who still only watch on-line via computer will get this feature and not be an “ipad” only app and those who do not have a ipad will be left out. Having the second screen functions as a second tab option in Firefox will be great. Listen without pausing it to multitask on the sources and research bit.

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kickagrandma
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:42pm
That’s nice, Glenn, and I thank you for all your creative genius. But, Glenn, it all boils down to three letters: GOD.

We either follow HIM, or we don’t.
We are either HIS, or we are not.
HE IS OUR KING, or not.
JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR, or not.

Nothing else, NOTHING, NO-THING or NO person else matters. PERIOD.

Preach and teach this doctrine. Let others do the behind the scenes things and present them from time to time to us. GOD has gifted you like few others on this planet, ever. May you use HIS GIFTS to further HIS message, not our own.

GOD HIMSELF HAS CHOSEN YOU TO BRING HIS MESSAGE to HIS PEOPLE.

Please, do not get confused between the two. You are so blessedly gifted, Glenn. Our LORD loves you and is entrusting so much to you.

In JESUS’ HOLY NAME I do pray, amen.

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SacredHonor1776
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:31pm
Second screen Technology? Kinda like Nintendo DS or the Wii U? But used more than just games?

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