Tunity

Tunity operates as a technology firm with offices in New York City and Tel Aviv, primarily known for its consumer-facing mobile application that allows users to hear audio from muted televisions. Founded in 2013 by Yaniv Davidson and Adi Gabber, the company was initially established to solve the common problem of inaccessible audio from TVs in public venues such as bars, gyms, and airports. Davidson, an engineer by training with an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, conceived the idea while waiting for a flight, noticing the large number of people watching silent screens. His background includes roles at Intel, The Boston Consulting Group, and leading business development for mySupermarket, which gave him insights into both technology and the media spending habits of major brands.

The core of Tunity's offering is its free mobile app, available for iOS and Android. The service utilizes patented computer vision and deep-learning technology. A user simply scans a television screen with their smartphone's camera, and the app identifies the channel and the precise timing of the live video stream, then delivers perfectly synchronized audio to the user's headphones via the cloud. This process requires no additional hardware and supports over 100 channels in the U.S., including major networks like ESPN, CBS, and FOX. While the app is free for consumers, Tunity's business model centers on leveraging the data collected from its user base. This out-of-home (OOH) viewership data, which historically has been difficult to measure accurately, is packaged and sold to television networks, advertisers, and brands. These clients use the analytics to gain a more complete understanding of their audience, especially in public spaces where viewing has been underreported. The company also generates revenue by licensing its technology for integration into third-party applications.

The company's journey includes securing a $1.1M seed round in July 2014 and a Series A round of $12 million in January 2018. The Series A funding was supported by prominent investors including former Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack, WeWork founder Adam Neumann, and MGM Resorts International. This capital was aimed at productizing its data analytics and enhancing its core technology. In March 2022, Tunity was acquired by iSpot.tv, a real-time TV measurement company, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition was a strategic move for iSpot.tv to integrate Tunity's accurate OOH measurement capabilities, which are based on video recognition rather than less reliable audio-based methods, into its broader cross-platform measurement stack. Following the acquisition, Tunity operates as a subsidiary of iSpot.tv, continuing its mission to measure TV consumption outside the home.

Keywords: out-of-home TV measurement, TV audio streaming, synchronized audio, computer vision, media analytics, television advertising data, OOH viewership, mobile application, ad measurement, media consumption, audience analytics, broadcast analytics, Yaniv Davidson, iSpot.tv, TV data, live TV audio, sports bar app, gym TV audio, airport TV audio, consumer data