Clicker

Clicker Media Inc. operated as a comprehensive online directory and search company for internet television, positioning itself as the 'TV Guide for the Web'. The company was founded by CEO Jim Lanzone, former CEO of Ask.com, and Paul Wehrley, addressing the fragmented landscape of online video content where consumers struggled to find shows scattered across numerous websites. Lanzone's journey included founding eTour, which was acquired by Ask Jeeves (later Ask.com), and serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Redpoint Ventures, where he developed the concept for Clicker.

The company launched publicly in November 2009 after debuting at TechCrunch50 and securing significant venture capital. It raised an $8 million Series A round in October 2008 from Benchmark Capital and Redpoint Ventures, followed by an $11 million Series B in February 2010, adding Jafco Ventures to its list of investors. Clicker did not host any video content itself; instead, its business model centered on indexing legally available, professional video streams and directing users to the rights-holders' websites. The platform cataloged both free content and paid options from services like Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon Video-on-Demand.

Clicker's product offered users a seamless, organized experience to discover what was available to watch online. Key features included DVR-like functions to subscribe to shows and track online availability, as well as social discovery tools that allowed users to share, recommend, and follow what their friends were watching. The platform's database grew to include over 750,000 episodes and 30,000 movies. The service also expanded to mobile with apps for iPhone and Android and a dedicated version for the iPad. In March 2011, CBS Interactive acquired Clicker for an undisclosed amount, integrating it into its portfolio of digital properties and appointing Lanzone as President of CBS Interactive. Following the acquisition, the Clicker.com domain was redirected to TV.com, and its original functionality was discontinued.

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