TV ratings season is about to be upon us and Australia’s TV networks are rolling out the big guns when it comes to programming. This year it’s all a little different, however, because every network has some form of second screen app, social app or catch-up app to get you closer to the action.
[related title=”Gizmodo Streaming Week ” desc=”Entertainment in a digital world…” tag=”streaming week ” items=”6″]Here are all the TV apps you need to stay on top of your favourite shows this year.
Welcome to Gizmodo’s Streaming Week! This week we’re going to show you the best ways to get the entertainment you want onto whatever screen you want, whenever you want. Tune in at 2pm AEDT in each day to find out more.
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Social
Zeebox — Ten
Zeebox is a social TV app that let you set reminders for your favourite shows, catch-up with friends who are also watching and share stuff about what you’re watching with your social networks.
Network Ten partnered with Zeebox to offer content on the platform for its viewers like allowing them to learn more about a show, follow celebrities and buy products they see in shows.
Just recently, Zeebox viewers got the chance to vote on how an episode of Hawaii Five-0 should end. How’s that for getting you involved?
Zeebox is available for iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices.
Fango — Seven
Fango is Seven’s way of getting its viewers more socially active while they sit on the couch.
Available for iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad and Android devices, Fango lets viewers check-in to their favourite shows, socialise with other users and compete to be the number one fan of a particular show.
Leaderboards give way to prizes, badges and points all round!
Jump In — Nine
Nine’s Jump In app was launched late last year as a competitor to the other two network’s social app offerings.
Jump In relaunched recently for social interaction with Channel Nine, GO! and Gem shows, and viewers are invited into the app at specific intervals during a show to get exclusive content. With The Block for example, viewers are getting exclusive looks inside the homes that are being renovated.
Jump In is available on iOS and Windows 8.
Catch-Up
Ten
Network Ten has a multitude of apps for catch-up TV. It has the main TEN app as well as one for Eleven and TEN Sports. All of these apps are designed for iPod Touch and iPhones and it’s probably best they stay on those devices. Upscaling onto iPads makes the whole thing look awful.
Network Ten’s Android app, however, is only available on Samsung devices via the Samsung Apps store. It also offers full episodes for you to catch-up on, broken down into segments with around two short ads in between each.
Foxtel Go
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Go is a tremendous app from the folks over at Foxtel for those who want both live programming as well as catch-up TV on the go. Right now it only works on iPad, but Foxtel has promised to bring the service to damn-near every device under the Sun.
ABC iView
ABC iView was one of the first catch-up and streaming platforms to hit the web in Australia. It gives you access to all of the ABC’s programming, from news and current affairs right through to comedies and dramas. You’ll also be able to stream the live 24-hour news service, ABC News 24, via the iView app.
Right now it’s only available on iOS, but Auntie is hard at work for an Android version.