Is MovieIQ really BD Live's elusive killer app?

Sony believes it may finally have found BD Live’s elusive killer app. The facility, which allows Blu-ray players to connect to the internet for additional content, has struggled to find any compelling applications since its introduction, despite a plethora of different approaches, from ‘Mologging’ to simple games.
But hopes are high that MovieIQ, an accessible database of facts, figures and trivia, could finally gain some attention.

The studio is so confident about MovieIQ that it says it will include it on all BD-Live releases from September onwards; the first titles to benefit from MovieIQ will be Angels & Demons, Easy Rider, Punch Drunk Love, The Quick and the Dead, Silverado and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.

The database is managed by Gracenote, a Sony subsidiary. Ross Blanchard, VP of business development for Gracenote, says: ‘MovieIQ takes full advantage of the Blu-ray format’s Internet connectivity and truly demonstrates that BD is the future of home entertainment. Now, movie lovers will have access to an incredible new service where they can explore and discover all the rich details on their favorite actors, directors and movies.’

Lexine Wong, senior executive VP of worldwide marketing at Sony, adds: ‘It has always been our goal at Sony Pictures to offer fans the ability to truly connect with their favorite movies using BD Live. We know many people interrupt their movie-watching experience to look up the filmography of an actor or to find out more about a song playing in the background. Now through MovieIQ, movie lovers can dive into constantly updated information about the movie they are watching without leaving their sofa, further enhancing the experience of watching movies in this always-connected age.’