Blinkx gains on launch of newly transformed website

Blinkx launched Tuesday a new and improved version of its video search engine.

Shares were up 3.47% to 67.00p at 10:56 as the multimedia platform unveiled the revamp of its website, blinkx.com.

The redesign was aimed at enhancing video search and viewing for users and includes more personalised features - My Stream, Multi-platform and Pause and Pick-up.

My Stream is a personal TV channel for users which constantly updates a stream of video which is customised based on a viewer's social graph, topics they have chosen to follow and preferences.

The multi-platform is an application designed for easier navigation on smartphones and table devices.

The Pause and Pick-up feature means users can start watching video on one device, hit pause and then pick it up again at the same point on a different gadget.

In open beta-testing over the past four months the website saw a significant increase in dwell time, with users spending four times as much time on the new site as on previous versions.

Mobile usage was up 400% following the redesign for more user friendly access on smartphones and tablets.

"We've been delighted with audience response to the new blinkx.com," said Chief Technology Officer Matt Scheybeler.

"In transforming the site, we prioritized discovery and personalisation because social networks and mobile devices have profoundly changed the way we consume content online. We're deeply engaged with Facebook pages and Twitter feeds - a unique content universe created for us by our friends and the people we follow, so we designed the new blinkx.com to support this behaviour: optimised for sharing, discovery and mobile access."

The news comes a day after Blinkx unveiled a new partnership with video sharing website Dailymotion to expand its content.

Blinkx will embed Dailymotion's player alongside its own content to improve access to videos including TV clips, film trailers, comedy sketches and more.

RD