Ranker Sets Viewing App

0
Ranker Sets Viewing App
Ranker Chief Executive Clark Benson

Digital media company Ranker Inc. has rolled out a new app to help consumers search for and discover shows across a range of streaming platforms.

The Watchworthy app arrives at a time of self-quarantines and social distancing, and will allow viewers to discover shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Go and more than 200 other content and over-the-top services.

Carthay-based Ranker launched Watchworthy on March 23 as a free iOS app for iPhones and iPads and as a mobile-optimized website.

Ranker said the goal is to give users a personalized, cross-platform recommendation watch list that saves them time and helps them avoid the frustration of being overwhelmed by so many choices.

“There’s an inherent problem when only one-third of adults say they browse their streaming content menus, and 21% say they would simply give up altogether when they can’t find something to watch,” said Ranker Chief Executive Clark Benson.

With so many new shows and streaming services, Benson added, making viewing decisions promises to get even more difficult. 

Nielsen’s first Total Audience Report on smart TV data reported that in December 2019, viewers had access to 646,152 unique program titles — and that 60% of Americans subscribe to more than one paid video streaming service. Yet when asked about what made them cancel a paid subscription service, 42% said they didn’t use it enough to justify the cost.

Upon signing up for the Watchworthy app, users are asked to vote up, down or pass on shows such as “Stranger Things,” “Modern Family” and “Killing Eve,” making choices against a 60-second countdown clock.

That gives the Watchworthy recommendation engine data points to generate an initial list of recommendations, based on Ranker’s 50,000 fan-generated TV ranking lists, which have been aggregated over the last decade.

Watchworthy users can filter shows by streaming service, genres, content ratings and run-time length.

Categories for recommendations include, “Shows Only Smart People Appreciate” and “Best Shows Currently On The Air,” supplemented for the modern moment with “Shows for Self-Quarantine” and “Shows To Distract You.”

Ranker’s Watchworthy roadmap for the rest of the year includes launching for the Android operating system and for more OTT connected devices, such as Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

No posts to display