SideReel
{{update|date=July 2024}}
{{Short description|American website}}
{{Infobox website
| name = SideReel
| logo = SideReel.svg
| screenshot =
| caption =
| registration = Optional
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2007|2|24}}
| parent = RhythmOne{{cite web|url=http://investor.rhythmone.com/assets/taptica/|title=Thank you for visiting the RhythmOne website for investors|website=investor.rhythmone.com}}
| company_type = Online media
| foundation =
| location_city = San Francisco, California
| location_country = United States
| homepage = {{url|www.sidereel.com}}
| website_type = Video Portal / Entertainment Fansite
}}
SideReel is a television show tracking website.{{cite web|url=http://vator.tv/news/2011-03-01-rovi-acquires-sidereel-launches-allrovicom |title=Rovi acquires SideReel, launches AllRovi.com |website=vator.tv |date=2011-03-01 |accessdate=2017-08-08}} The site, while not a production or publishing entity, gives users access to various discussions, reviews, and news articles related to shows; it acts as a medium for users to access content centered around shows of their liking.
History
SideReel launched in April 2007 and was featured in CNET's Webware "beta watch" that same month.{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9713579-2.html |title=Beta watch: SideReel opens new video wiki |publisher=CNET |author=Needleman, Rafe |date=April 27, 2007}}
In 2011, SideReel was acquired by Rovi Corporation,{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/video/rovi-sidereel/ |title=Rovi Buys Sidereel, Expands to the Web |publisher=Gigaom.com |date=March 1, 2011}} and the Allrovi.com site was launched. The company also announced it had surpassed 1 million unique visitors in one day.
In July 2013, Rovi spun off SideReel, along with AllGame, AllMovie, AllMusic, and Celebified, as All Media Network; the company's owners includes the original founders of SideReel and Ackrell Capital investor Mike Ackrell.{{cite web |url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/31/563685/10042754/en/Rovi-Corporation-Reports-Second-Quarter-2013-Financial-Performance.html |title=Rovi Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2013 Financial Performance Announces Agreements to Sell Rovi Entertainment Store and Consumer Website Businesses |publisher=globalnewswire.com |date=2013-07-31 |accessdate=2017-08-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808234118/https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/31/563685/10042754/en/Rovi-Corporation-Reports-Second-Quarter-2013-Financial-Performance.html |archivedate=2017-08-08 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131203005593/en |title=Digital Entertainment Veterans Launch 'All Media Network' to Perfect Digital Media Discovery |publisher=BusinessWire |date=December 3, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
In 2014, a free SideReel app was launched, allowing fans to find, track and watch their favorite TV series on iOS devices.{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/lostremote/sidereel-app-lets-fans-watch-and-track-their-favorite-shows-on-ios-devices/42802 |title=SideReel app lets fans watch and track their favorite shows on iOS devices|website=adweek.com |date=2014-03-13 |accessdate=2017-08-08}} The site's Android and iOS apps were later withdrawn as they were too unprofitable.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sidereel.com/an-important-update-about-the-sidereel-ios-and-android-apps/ |title=An Important Update About the SideReel iOS and Android Apps |website=SideReel.com |accessdate=2018-08-02}}
In 2020, the site was purchased by Netaktion LLC.{{Cite web|url=http://sidereel.com/about|title = About | SideReel}}
Business model
SideReel compiles a comprehensive list of television shows and aggregates content for them. The site provides links to view full episodes online, as well as a forum to discuss and review TV shows.{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/business/la-fi-ct-piracy-20100921/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925215217/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/business/la-fi-ct-piracy-20100921/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2010 |title=Hollywood sounds alarm as streaming video websites enable a new wave of piracy |date=September 21, 2010 |author=Chmielewski, Dawn C. |website=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=2017-08-08}}
This site allows users to actively collaborate on updating site content, and uses Facebook Connect to foster user participation and a sense of community. Users of Connect can see what shows friends like, and share their favorites.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
Criticism
In 2010, an LA Times article was published using interviews with unnamed anti-piracy experts who accused SideReel of being a way for viewers to watch shows that are not available online by linking to pirated streaming sites. The company denied the charges, stating that it was merely a specialized search engine that points to legitimate sites and removes infringing links when notified of them.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website}}
- {{cite web |url= http://www.founderly.com/2011/10/sidereel-zach-larson-1-of-2 |title= SideReel – Zach Larson (video interview and transcript) |date= October 10, 2011 |author= Matthew Wise |work= FounderLY }}
Category:American entertainment websites
Category:Entertainment companies based in California
Category:Companies based in San Francisco
Category:Internet properties established in 2007
Category:Entertainment companies established in 2007