We are excited to announce today that we have teamed up with Roku to launch a new SHOWTIME interactive application for Roku devices featuring HD-quality promotional content from the critically-acclaimed hit SHOWTIME series SHAMELESS and the new comedy series HOUSE OF LIES.

Earlier today, Beet.TV posted an interview with Robert Hayes, SVP and General Manager of Digital Media for Showtime Networks. A customer since 2007, Showtime uses Brightcove to not only power wide-ranging, ad-supported online video programming at Sho.com, but also to syndicate promotional video content out to a fast-growing network of more than 100 partner websites, 200 entertainment bloggers, and major online video portals.

It's a treat to get to use something you've worked on in your personal life. A designer from the iPhone team or the person at IDEO that did the stand-up toothpaste dispenser must get this kind of rush on a daily basis. On the Brightcove Professional Services team, I dare say that's starting to happen to us on a regular basis. We and millions of other people get to touch our work each day on great sites such as Showtime and The New York Times. 

One of the things I find really valuable about online video is the ability to be more interactive with your audience. There are often many competing distractions online that you don't get when you are watching TV, and depending on the type of audience you are trying to engage, providing interactivity with your video experience can definitely keep users around longer.

Every year, television networks send members of the Academy of Television Arts and Science piles of DVDs with elaborate packaging in an attempt to get them to nominate and vote for their original programming for Emmy awards. This year, Showtime has teamed with Brightcove to revolutionize the way television networks do Emmy campaigns.

In partnership with Showtime, Brightcove has just released the first two episodes of Showtime's new original programming series The Tudors.  While the new show is available through a range of other online outlets, we'd like to think that the brightcove.com version offers a distinctly higher quality experience. We're also pleased to present the full episodes in a special branded Showtime channel on the site.