TV has been under attack by new startups with even large technology firms like Google, Apple and Intel looking to change the way users consume televised content. One new player in the sector is Fanhattan, which is an iOS app that runs on the Apple iPad and allows users to search for TV shows and movies to play on their tablet. The firm just released a beta web version on Thursday, February 21. The startup is almost like a search engine in that a users enters the name of the movie or show they want to see and the app returns a list of online providers that have the video content they seek. A user can can then select from providers like Netflix, Amazon, HBO Go and other like them to stream the content. With a web version the company has the ability to give even more providers to users than its iOS version. While iOS users can only choose between 16 providers, the web service offers 29 providers including a lot of free content and a large database of one million shows and movies.
Fanhattan users will be allowed to watch shows on the broadcasters site and also utilize content providers like Hulu and Hulu Plus if the access the service through the web. Fanhattan CEO Gilles BianRosa explains that, “Depending on what device you’re using the service on, it will clearly show you your options for watching.”
Fanhattan content providers on the web include the major networks like NBC, ABC and CBS while also bringing on cable channels like Comedy Central and HBO.
According to BianRosa, Fanhattan aimed at the iPad to launch its service first because finding video content for the platform was harder because of “all those apps that don’t talk to each other.” The internet is different and he explains that, “Many people actually discover movies and shows on the web, so we wanted to make sure that the discovery aspect was really front and center, especially the social aspects.”
Fanhattan Voice, the company’s new blog, is also live and will be providing news, features and recommendations. The WatchLists feature will also be available on the web service as it is on the iOS app. Users will be able to make their own list of shows and movies based on different themes. They will now be able to share these with friends and family. The company has plans to expand to other platforms but no announcements have been made as of yet.
Source: Giga Om
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