The Top Five Innovations in Free-to-Guest In-Room TV Experience in Hotels

May 31, 2023

The Current State of the Hotel Experience:

The hotel industry has experienced rapid transformation in the past decade, with technological innovation leading the charge. One area that has seen significant change is in-room entertainment, with guests expecting more than just access to basic TV channels. The free-to-guest (FTG) in-room TV experience has become a key differentiator for hotels, and the next wave of innovation promises to deliver an even more personalized and immersive guest experience. In this white paper, we will explore the latest trends and technologies shaping the FTG in-room TV experience, and examine how hotels can leverage these innovations to drive guest satisfaction and loyalty.

The FTG in-room TV experience has come a long way since the days of basic cable channels and clunky remote controls. Today's guests expect a more sophisticated and engaging experience that reflects their personal preferences and interests. Hoteliers are responding by investing in new technologies and services that deliver a more personalized and immersive experience, from voice-activated assistants to streaming content and virtual reality.

The Next Wave of Innovation:

So, what are the latest trends and technologies driving the next wave of innovation in the FTG in-room TV experience?

Here are the top 5 trends:

Conclusion:

The FTG in-room TV experience is evolving rapidly, with new technologies and services driving greater personalization and immersion. Hotels that invest in these innovations are likely to see higher levels of guest satisfaction and loyalty, as well as increased revenue from in-room entertainment services. As technology continues to advance, the possibilities for the FTG in-room TV experience are limitless, and hotels that embrace these innovations will be well-positioned for success in the years to come.

SOURCE:
Edison Interactive
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Bob Pachmayer

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Bob Pachmayer is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur, currently leading Two Oaks Capital – a Denver-based private equity firm – as Founder and President.  Two Oaks maintains a highly successful portfolio with investments in commercial service companies, commercial real estate and residential real estate development, among others.  Bob founded Two Oaks after having spent time as a senior member of financial advisory practices at Mesirow Financial, PwC and Arthur Andersen.  Bob’s experience at these firms involved primarily interim management, financial restructurings and corporate turnarounds across an array of industries.  Bob’s projects have won multiple awards, including Global M&A Network Deal of the Year ($100 million plus), Global M&A Restructuring of the Year (Large Markets) and M&A Advisor Outstanding M&A Deal of the Year.

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Kevin Harrington has served as a Director of Edison Interactive since 2026. Mr. Harrington is a strategic investor and board member with more than four decades of experience in direct-response media, brand building, and entrepreneurial growth. He is the creator of the infomercial format and founder of the globally recognized "As Seen On TV" brand, having been involved in launching more than 500 products, resulting in over $6 billion in global sales.

Kevin Harrington is one of the most recognized figures in the history of consumer marketing and entrepreneurship. As one of the original Sharks on ABC's hit series Shark Tank, he helped establish the modern language of startup investment and brand-building for a generation of founders. His career has been defined by an ability to identify emerging distribution channels ahead of the market and apply media leverage to scale brands from early-stage to global recognition; a thesis that directly informs his investment in and commitment to Edison Interactive's hospitality media platform.

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Sidney Rice is a former Pro Bowl NFL wide receiver, Super Bowl XLVIII champion, entrepreneur, and technology investor. Across seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, Sidney competed at the highest level of his sport. The years since have been defined by the same intensity, applied to a different field.

Sidney is the founder of Dossier Wine, a consumer brand he is actively scaling, and led the expansion of Wingstop franchise operations into Washington as a hands-on operator. His investment and advisory portfolio spans sports technology, consumer brands, and real estate and hospitality, where he works closely with founders on partnerships, brand growth, and market expansion. He is a recognized voice at the intersection of sports, business, and consumer culture.

As a Board Member of Edison Interactive, Sidney provides strategic guidance on growth, partnerships, and market positioning across the company's hospitality and golf platforms. He brings to Edison a rare combination of elite athletic credibility, operator discipline, and the relationships to accelerate growth across hospitality, golf, and beyond.

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GARY COHEN

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Gary Cohen is a highly accomplished technology executive with decades of experience building and scaling category-defining platforms. He previously served as CEO of EZLinks Golf, the largest tee-time booking and golf course management system in the world, powering tens of thousands of golf courses globally.

During his tenure, Gary led EZLinks through significant growth, forged strategic partnerships with major industry stakeholders, and played a key role in bringing the PGA Tour in as an investor. He ultimately oversaw the successful sale of EZLinks to NBC, where the platform was integrated into GolfNow and NBC Sports’ golf ecosystem, solidifying its position as the dominant digital infrastructure provider in golf.

Gary has deep relationships across golf course ownership groups, the PGA Tour, media companies, and technology partners. At Edison Interactive, he serves as a Board Member, advising on strategy, partnerships, and long-term value creation across Edison’s golf and hospitality platforms. His experience scaling enterprise technology businesses and navigating strategic exits provides critical perspective as Edison expands its footprint and monetization capabilities.

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DAVID CHESSLER

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David Chessler is a pioneering force in the GPS golf technology space and a seasoned serial entrepreneur who has successfully built and sold multiple companies in the connected device and sports technology sectors. As the former CEO of both GPS Industries and ParView Inc., David played a foundational role in shaping the modern GPS golf experience, leading innovation, scaling operations, forging strategic partnerships, and driving successful exits.

A recipient of both the Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Small Business Administration's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Florida, David has earned a reputation as a visionary leader and a deal-making expert. He serves on Edison's Board of Directors as a principal of Chessler Holdings, a private investment firm with a long-term strategic commitment to Edison's platform and growth.

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With over 30 years of experience in the technology industry, J. Allen Dove brings a wealth of deep technical leadership to his role at Edison Interactive. His expertise spans large-scale distributed transactional systems, platform infrastructure, data science, information security, machine learning, and AI.

Allen is one of the most respected technologists in connected TV advertising platforms and hospitality screen network infrastructure. He spent more than two decades building SpotX from an early-stage startup into a global leader in connected TV advertising technology. Following SpotX’s $1.17B acquisition by Magnite, Allen served as Chief Technology Officer of Magnite before joining Edison in 2023, where he now leads the technology architecture behind Edison’s rapidly expanding connected screen platform across hospitality environments.

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Josh Cariveau is Chief Operating Officer of Edison Interactive, where he leads operations, product execution, and revenue alignment across the company’s connected screen platform. He focuses on scaling operational systems that support Edison’s growth across hotels, golf courses, and premium hospitality environments.

Prior to Edison,   Josh served as President of SpotX, a global leader in programmatic video and connected TV advertising. As one of the company’s earliest employees, he helped scale SpotX from startup to nearly $1 billion in gross platform revenue, building one of the industry’s largest CTV advertising marketplaces. Josh brings deep experience in scaling high-growth technology platforms, international expansion, and performance-driven operations to Edison’s leadership team.

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Nick Stanitz-Harper is a three-time founder and the Co-Founder and CEO of Edison Interactive, a cloud-based hospitality technology platform powering connected screen systems across hotels, resorts, and golf courses nationwide. Under his leadership, Edison has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years, named to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for two consecutive years, and built a national platform that generates tens of millions of guest interactions annually for operators and brands across hospitality and golf.

Nick's career has consistently focused on identifying overlooked infrastructure opportunities and building scalable technology platforms around them. Before Edison, he founded All Digital Circulation, helping global publishers transition into digital distribution, and then launched Sticky Media, building one of the largest regional digital out-of-home advertising networks across taxi fleets, sports arenas, and hospitality venues. Both companies shaped the thesis behind Edison: that hospitality screens, when built into a connected platform, elevate the guest experience, generate new revenue and operational intelligence for operators, and unlock premium media reach for the brands that want to engage them.

A graduate of Colorado State University and a three-time collegiate lacrosse All-American, Nick was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame and has been recognized as a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, a C-Suite Awards recipient, and a multiple-time Titan 100 honoree, including induction into the Titan 100 Hall of Fame.

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