When a customer is watching a supported linear channel, EntertainmentOS can surface and offer Interactive Services. This can include additional streams, behind-the-scenes footage, and other extra content. These interactive services enrich the user’s experience by augmenting the media that they’re already watching.
For users, Interactive Services are primarily used to launch apps from linear programming or to use specific app functions to supplement the linear content the user is watching. In this sense, Interactive Services work similarly to Voice Commands.
United Kingdom Apps Only
Interactive Services are only required and functional for apps in the United Kingdom.
App partners
As an app partner, implementing Interactive Services is outside of your scope. Interactive Services are only implemented for and used by public broadcasters in the UK, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Our scaled devices have a function similar to Interactive Services, but access to this feature is offered on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, targeting scaled devices means you will lose out on the benefits of EntertainmentOS and Firebolt®. Discuss this with your partner manager.
Public broadcasters
Implementing Interactive Services is not required for certification and inclusion on EntertainmentOS. If you do choose to support Interactive Services, you must first reach an agreement with your app partner before discussing with Comcast. Additionally, you must meet all of the functional requirements for Interactive Services.
Guidelines
Our goal is to make interactive services feel native. Following the guidelines established below ensures that your interactive services never feel out of place.
Interactive Service trigger
The following guidelines are for dynamic interactive service prompts.
Your interactive service should only have 1 prompt per show or episode.
Interactive services should never be used as a shortcut to launch your app.
Interactive services should never be used to duplicate existing EntertainmentOS services. For example, your interactive service should not:
Restart a linear channel.
Switch linear channels.
Provide accessibility features already implemented natively.
Your interactive service prompt should follow all design principles.
Side Panel
The following guidelines are for the side panel experience triggered by the interactive prompt.
When an interactive prompt is triggered, the side panel should open.
The side panel’s focus should be contextual based on the prompt.
If the prompt relates to viewing related streams, those related streams should appear first.
The original content should continue playing in the background of the side panel.
When a customer dismisses the side panel, they should return to the original content.
Image specifications
Image specifications for Interactive Prompts will be provided during integration by your partner manager.
Functional requirements
Specific requirements for Interactive Service functionality are found in our Platform Integration Requirements document.