Comcast and Twitter Want to Hook You Up

Didja get the tweet? Comcast and Twitter have come up with a  cool, collaborative technology  to drive potential viewers to shows  with the blast of a tweet and push of a button.  Starting, of course, with programs on  Comcast-owned NBCUniversal channels  including NBC,  USA Network,  Syfy, Bravo, Oxygen, E!, Esquire Network, The Golf Channel, CNBC and  MSNBC.

Twitter – soon to go public with a stock offering – has long claimed  influence in  building TV viewership, by  promoting real time conversations tied to specific shows.

Now starting next month  with shows like "The Voice," "The Blacklist," "Michael J Fox Show," "Today Show,"  "Psych" and "Suits,"  a Comcast-engineered feature called "See It" will lead the horses right to the water – allowing  Comcast Xfinity TV customers to instantly access shows touted in a tweet from the program provider.

Here's how it works. Tapping the embedded "See It" button in the blasted message  brings up a menu of options , including tune to live TV,  start a show On Demand on your set-top box, tune to a show online or on your mobile device, set a DVR or set a reminder. There's also an option to instantly buy theater tickets through Fandango, another NBCUniversal venture.

"'See It ' is a simple yet powerful feature that creates an instant online remote control," said Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corp. "Comcast is taking a leap forward in social TV by enabling Twitter users to more easily find and view the shows they want to watch and discover new shows."

Of course, there are more advertising dollars to be made for both NBCUniversal and Twitter. NBC Sports Group will get that ball rolling by delivering short-form video highlights of Premiere League soccer games sponsored by General Electric, to fans within Twitter's social framework.  USA Network will jump into the game with a special second screen +tweets promotion for  a "Modern Family" marathon October 18.

Not big on NBCUniversal shows? Connected to another TV service provider? Comcast and Twitter are "in discussions with additional distribution partners and television networks that will use this feature to promote their content in the coming months," said today's press announcement.