Harris Corporation has acquired the assets of DESKTOPBOX, a Toronto-based technology firm that offers a unique, real-time Internet broadcasting platform that enables synchronization between a television or radio broadcast and an automatic PC browser Web-page broadcast. Harris will integrate DESKTOPBOX technology into its H-Class software product line and market it worldwide.

The DESKTOPBOX platform allows for a two-screen, enhanced TV and radio model in which content distributors can send Web URLs synchronized with a live or prerecorded program to the audience's Internet browsers — enabling a rich, interactive Web experience. During the program, Web URLs providing relevant, supplemental information are automatically displayed on the viewer's PC. For example, when a baseball player comes up to bat, the URL can display his statistics, or when a national automotive spot is run, the Web page of a local dealer for that brand can be simultaneously displayed in the PC browser. The music programming experience can be enhanced by Video on Demand (VOD) content, blogs, lyrics, album notes, fan Web sites, concert schedules and CD ordering information. Audiences can access the DESKTOPBOX-synchronized Web content during the scheduled airing of the show or during playback from a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), VOD server, or DVD.

"We've been working with DESKTOPBOX since early 2007 on the application of their technology into our content management platforms," said Tim Thorsteinson, president, Harris Broadcast Communications. "By bringing the technology of DESKTOPBOX into Harris, we're able to more rapidly and extensively integrate their Internet synchronization technology into our media solutions."

The DESKTOPBOX Web-based communications technology is being integrated with a range of Harris products, including the ADC and D-Series broadcast automation products, the Vision scheduling system, and the Landmark, OSi and Novar traffic and billing systems.

"Since our DESKTOPBOX platform allows for an advertiser-supported model, interfacing with Harris traffic and billing systems will allow us take advantage of Harris automated electronic billing features, making it easier for our users to generate incremental ad revenue and monetize the system," said Mike Church, the president of DESKTOPBOX. "Ultimately, the ability to track consumer dual screen usage allows networks, stations, MSOs and content producers to increase advertising revenue for a given program."