Amazon ‘Shop the Show’
Amazon is expanding its Prime Video “Shop the Show” feature to over 1,300 shows and movies allowing viewers to shop products related to the show they are watching. Rather than showing interactive features such as QR codes or rotating carousels, this second screen experience features landing pages based on products within the Prime Video content you are watching. It is a unique feature in that the shopping experience is offered while watching the show, linking to the shopping experience on your mobile device. The Shop the Show feature is offered for popular films including Barbie, The Boys, Fallout, Mean Girls, and Star Wars, as well as the NFL and NASCAR.
The Circana Take:
- For the longest time, viewers have been talking about being able to purchase merchandise directly from the show they are watching. Amazon’s core business is shopping; thus, the company is poised for success as they are uniquely capable of merchandising with limited interruptions to programming.
Samsung TV+ expanding sports presence
Samsung TV+ will be expanding its live sports presence this spring offering five free sports channels. Fans will get live access to select local and national games from top sports leagues. In addition to its current 50+ channels, Samsung TV+ will be adding two regional NHL channels - Victory Plus Dallas featuring the Dallas Stars and Victory Plus Anaheim featuring the Anaheim Ducks. Nationally, new channels include NASCAR (original programming and non-stop race coverage), The Roku Sports Channel (broadcasting live MLB games, Formula E races and X games) and PBR (Professional Bull Riders) featuring PBR Team Series, Ultimate Bull Fighting, and rodeo sports events. The existing channel lineup includes the NFL Channel, MLB, FIFA+, Formula 1, PGA TOUR, and UFC. A sports extravaganza for fans.
The Circana Take:
- Expanding live sports programming on Samsung TV will help the service stand out from the other FAST channels, bring in more ad revenue and allow for increased engagement. This is particularly important because, unlike key competitors, Samsung TV+ programming is not fueled by a parent companies content portfolio.
Star Wars Premiers in Fortnite
Disney and Epic Games are launching the first two episodes of a new Star Wars animated series “Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld” inside Fortnite, before it is released on Disney+. This is the first time Disney+ is premiering a show inside a game. Disney and Epic have already brought Star Wars and Marvel to Fortnite which includes playable characters in Fortnite and an exclusive scene from The Rise of Skywalker for Fortnite players to watch.
The Circana Take:
- Disney is blurring the lines between medium and expanding IP reach as it develops audience engagement. The content company that determines how to do this with YouTube will unlock massive potential.