Cognitive Networks, a provider of real-time services that power enhanced TV content on smart TVs, has partnered with two app developers, A Different Engine and Accedo, to create a first-of-its-kind smart TV ecosystem for enhanced TV. This complicated undertaking is nearing completion thanks to partnerships with interactive content creation and distribution platforms, app developers, advertisers, TV manufacturers, and content providers.

Indeed, Cognitive’s partnerships with A Different Engine and Accedo are only a part of the company’s smart TV ecosystem build out. At the heart of this ecosystem is Cognitive’s Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology, which enables the delivery of a robust enhanced TV experience for viewers, specifically by enabling related content to be displayed on smart TVs in sync with related television programming.

As such, the ecosystem lives up to the definition of enhanced TV — to provide users with increase engagement and interaction with TV content through their smart TV — quite well.

“Application development and implementation for a 10 foot viewing experience using HTML5, broadband connectivity and LG’s Magic Motion remote is a special art form,” said Michael Collette, CEO of Cognitive Networks, in a statement. “These developers have great experience building for TV and have shown strong ability to take full advantage of what is fundamentally a new medium of expression and engagement.”

Indeed, both app developers have some experience with smart TV development. A Different Engine, for example, worked with Bravo in the past to help the channel distribute its programming on smart TV platforms. Accedo, meanwhile, worked alongside pay OTT telecom platform deployment solutions provider Tvinci last year to help support EpicTV’s streaming service for connected devices.

While working with Cognitive Networks, these developers will have to familiarize themselves with the company’s ENGAGE API, which allows app providers to launch opt-in based apps that are synchronized with live or time-shifted content.