{{update|date=July 2024}} {{Short description|American website}} {{Infobox website | name = SideReel | logo = SideReel.svg | screenshot = <!-- no image here causes a blank space bug at top of page --> | caption = | registration = Optional | launch_date = {{start date and age|2007|2|24}} | parent = [[RhythmOne]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.rhythmone.com/assets/taptica/|title=Thank you for visiting the RhythmOne website for investors|website=investor.rhythmone.com}}</ref> | company_type = Online media | foundation = | location_city = [[San Francisco, California]] | location_country = United States | homepage = {{url|www.sidereel.com}} | website_type = Video Portal / Entertainment Fansite }}
'''SideReel''' is a [[television show]] tracking website.<ref name=vator>{{cite web|url=http://vator.tv/news/2011-03-01-rovi-acquires-sidereel-launches-allrovicom |title=Rovi acquires SideReel, launches AllRovi.com |website=vator.tv |date=2011-03-01 |accessdate=2017-08-08}}</ref> The site, while not a production or publishing entity, gives users access to various discussions, reviews, and news articles related to shows; it acts as a medium for users to access content centered around shows of their liking.
==History== SideReel launched in April 2007 and was featured in [[CNET]]'s Webware "beta watch" that same month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9713579-2.html |title=Beta watch: SideReel opens new video wiki |publisher=[[CNET]] |author=Needleman, Rafe |date=April 27, 2007}}</ref>
In 2011, SideReel was acquired by [[Rovi Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gigaom.com/video/rovi-sidereel/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709032225/http://gigaom.com/video/rovi-sidereel/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |title=Rovi Buys Sidereel, Expands to the Web |publisher=Gigaom.com |date=March 1, 2011}}</ref> and the Allrovi.com site was launched.<ref name=vator/> The company also announced it had surpassed 1 million unique visitors in one day.<ref name=vator/>
In July 2013, Rovi spun off SideReel, along with AllGame, AllMovie, AllMusic, and Celebified, as [[All Media Network]]; the company's owners includes the original founders of SideReel and Ackrell Capital investor Mike Ackrell.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/31/563685/10042754/en/Rovi-Corporation-Reports-Second-Quarter-2013-Financial-Performance.html |title=Rovi Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2013 Financial Performance Announces Agreements to Sell Rovi Entertainment Store and Consumer Website Businesses |publisher=globalnewswire.com |date=2013-07-31 |accessdate=2017-08-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808234118/https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2013/07/31/563685/10042754/en/Rovi-Corporation-Reports-Second-Quarter-2013-Financial-Performance.html |archivedate=2017-08-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131203005593/en |title=Digital Entertainment Veterans Launch 'All Media Network' to Perfect Digital Media Discovery |publisher=BusinessWire |date=December 3, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
In 2014, a free SideReel app was launched, allowing fans to find, track and watch their favorite TV series on iOS devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/lostremote/sidereel-app-lets-fans-watch-and-track-their-favorite-shows-on-ios-devices/42802 |title=SideReel app lets fans watch and track their favorite shows on iOS devices|website=adweek.com |date=2014-03-13 |accessdate=2017-08-08}}</ref> The site's Android and iOS apps were later withdrawn as they were too unprofitable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.sidereel.com/an-important-update-about-the-sidereel-ios-and-android-apps/ |title=An Important Update About the SideReel iOS and Android Apps |website=SideReel.com |accessdate=2018-08-02}}</ref>
In 2020, the site was purchased by Netaktion LLC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sidereel.com/about|title = About | SideReel}}</ref>
==Business model== SideReel compiles a comprehensive list of television shows and aggregates content for them. The site provides links to view full episodes online, as well as a forum to discuss and review TV shows.<ref name=latimes>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/business/la-fi-ct-piracy-20100921/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925215217/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/21/business/la-fi-ct-piracy-20100921/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2010 |title=Hollywood sounds alarm as streaming video websites enable a new wave of piracy |date=September 21, 2010 |author=Chmielewski, Dawn C. |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=2017-08-08}}</ref>
This site allows users to actively collaborate on updating site content, and uses [[Facebook Connect]] to foster user participation and a sense of community. Users of Connect can see what shows friends like, and share their favorites.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
==Criticism== In 2010, an LA Times article was published using interviews with unnamed anti-piracy experts who accused SideReel of being a way for viewers to watch shows that are not available online by linking to pirated streaming sites. The company denied the charges, stating that it was merely a specialized search engine that points to legitimate sites and removes infringing links when notified of them.<ref name=latimes/>
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{official website}} * {{cite web |url= http://www.founderly.com/2011/10/sidereel-zach-larson-1-of-2 |title= SideReel – Zach Larson (video interview and transcript) |date= October 10, 2011 |author= Matthew Wise |work= FounderLY }}
[[Category:Television websites]] [[Category:American entertainment websites]] [[Category:Entertainment companies based in California]] [[Category:Companies based in San Francisco]] [[Category:Internet properties established in 2007]] [[Category:Entertainment companies established in 2007]] [[Category:2007 establishments in California]] [[Category:2011 mergers and acquisitions]]