ABC's digital lap dance

Holy double-tasking, Batman. ABC has launched a new iPad app that automatically syncs with your television show by picking up an audio signal, and then dishes up additional content via the tablet in your lap.

The clever app takes advantage of the growing trend of concurrent media usage, where consumers watch multiple screens at the same time (think of a teen with smart phone in hand watching a movie in your basement). Nielsen's three-screen studies, which use direct observation of consumers in 10-second increments to see what they watch when, have found people are (gasp) extremely likely to look away from TV sets during commercial breaks, instead picking up magazines, cell phones or laptops. The only way to keep those viewers engaged in the marketing messages that fund most televised content is to gain share of another media channel. ABC, way to grab eyeball shelf space.

Via Ben Malbon.