History, Verizon & Delivery Agent Announce New History Shop App

The long-anticipated age of commerce within television programming has arrived. HISTORY, Verizon Communications Inc., and Delivery Agent, Inc., the leader in multi-channel commerce for entertainment, jointly announce the first contextual commerce application accessible to network programming viewers.

Verizon FiOS TV subscribers will have 24/7 access to the new HISTORY Shop application that enables them to watch A+E Network's HISTORY channel and use their remote control to purchase merchandise related to and seen on hit series such as Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers and more.

Built by Delivery Agent and tested in Verizon's labs and in-home trials, this t-commerce shopping platform taps into Delivery Agent's proprietary database of products mapped to television content in order to present the right products at the right time. For example, while watching Pawn Stars, customers can use their FiOS TV remote controls to click to purchase a wide range of brands and products including: classic bikes from Schwinn, vintage inspired consumer electronics from Crosley, Civil War and presidential memorabilia from The Franklin Mint, as well as the complete show season on DVD.

"The HISTORY Shop application is an exciting first, because it enables viewers to see and buy things at the moment they're most interested - while their favorite shows are on screen," said Mark Garner, Senior Vice President, Distribution Business Development, Analytics & Marketing for A+E Networks. "This is a great convenience for HISTORY fans and a great selling opportunity for us. And, since we're selling many of the same products on TV that we offer online - and already know our viewers love - we're confident they are going to enjoy this new way to shop."

To access the new application, viewers watching HISTORY programming click on the HISTORY icon that will appear on the TV screen. The application displays shopping items for the customer to view and purchase on the right hand side of the TV screen while the television program runs on the left. Viewers can then use their remote control to purchase items and securely check out using Delivery Agent's TV Wallet(TM) - the transaction engine used by the top media companies. Viewers also can access the HISTORY Shop application through the FiOS TV Application Storefront under the Featured and Shopping categories. HISTORY is available for FiOS TV customers on channels 128 in standard-definition and 628 in high-definition.

"FiOS TV is a highly innovative and interactive service that puts technology in viewers' hands to enhance and transform their home-entertainment experiences," said Rachelle Zoffer, Director, Content Acquisition and Programming for Verizon. "Our strategic partnership with A+E Networks and Delivery Agent breaks down old technology barriers and frees subscribers to access products they want in new and exciting ways."

Monetizing content for more than 40 leading television programmers, Delivery Agent operates and manages the online stores for more than 350 television shows and has secured the rights to market and sell more than one million products connected to television content, including A+E Network's shows. With this HISTORY t-commerce initiative, Verizon, Delivery Agent and A+E Networks are beginning the migration of the network's online shopping experiences to include the television.

"The technology advancements driving this ground-breaking television commerce initiative are extraordinary," said Mike Fitzsimmons, Delivery Agent CEO. "This is the first time anyone has successfully aligned the goals and requirements of the three essential players in contextual television commerce; the entertainment television programmer, the television service provider and the brands/products seen in entertainment content. We're thrilled to have the solution that drives television commerce forward."