Video search site Blinkx has launched a new way of finding television shows on the web. Blinkx Remote presents search results from channels including those of the main broadcasters in Britain: the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five. A version aimed at the United States market is due later.
Basically it offers a simple keyword search on title, which can be filtered by genre. Simple, but effective. What sets it apart is the rapid auto completion drop down that immediately indicates possible matches as you type. The results page then offers a link to the relevant programme on the site of the appropriate broadcaster.
Audiences will find only full length, legally available, episodes of their favourite television programmes through Blinkx Remote. They will also be able to sign up to receive RSS or email alerts when a new show is posted.
“The online video landscape has changed dramatically over the past year — what was once the domain of short-form, user-generated material, has become the realm of premium television,” said Suranga Chandratillake, the founder and chief executive of Blinkx.
While the Kangaroo project, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, has been delayed by competition concerns, Blinkx offers a practical way for users to search for shows from different broadcasters on a single site.