Sky News rolls out responsive design site with plans to pull online content closer to TV service
Sky News has rolled out its responsive site update to desktop and is looking at integrating improved digital news streaming capabilities with its TV broadcast news service.
Roll-out: Sky News is looking at pulling real-time digital closer to TV
Speaking to The Drum, Sky News head of digital development Hugh Westbrook explained that the Livefyre news streaming software could allow the broadcaster to pull in reporters’ tweets directly to the TV screen, offering live updates, for example, straight from inside a courtroom to accompany more traditional out-of-court reports.
“One of the features we’re looking at as we become more multiplatform from a Sky News perspective is how what we do on TV feeds digital and vice versa,” he said. “One of the things the Livefyre API will allow us to do is drive on-screen graphics.
“What we’re now looking to do is pull digital content such as tweets and comments in so that our TV viewers benefit from it at the same time. It’s taking that digital storytelling metric and actually putting it on the television screen.”
Jordan Kretchmer, founder and CEO of Livefyre, added: “Sky News’ future plans to utilise this technology will further push the boundaries of news broadcasting across any device of medium.”
The responsive design site rollout follows initial launches on tablet and smartphone. In recent months, Sky News has used Livefyre software to power real time coverage of the Oscar Pistorius trial and the Scottish independence referendum.