Shazam app now works with TV on 160 U.S. channels

Shazam announced today that it's expanding its mobile app, best known for its music identification service, to work with more TV content.

The "Shazam for TV" part of the app now works with programming at any time of day on over 160 U.S. channels, the company said, with the exception of some local-only shows such as news broadcasts.

Here's how it works: if a viewer is watching "Mad Men," the app can pull up cast information, actor photos, gossip, trivia and social networking activity surrounding the show. If it's a sports event, the app will show aggregated schedules, scores and statistics.

In addition, the app can bring up content related to the show through links to IMDB or Wikipedia and, as you'd expect, can help identify music used in the show.

"Over the last year, Shazam has been testing and learning what works by building dozens of custom interactive second-screen experiences for select television shows and events like the Olympics on NBC, American Idol, the Grammys, and the Super Bowl, as well as other live and scripted programming," said Doug Garland, Shazam CEO, in a statement.

"We've applied what we've learned to our newly expanded service, and will continue to work closely with our network partners and show producers to build special, unique second-screen experiences for their tent-pole television events and many of the most popular shows on TV."

The app is available free on all major platforms including iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

As well as boosting its TV elements, the mobile app will soon get new social features including linked Facebook friend activity, allowing you to comment, tag and discuss a show or song you're watching or listening to. Users will also be able to get social over Twitter and Google+. These features will be launched in the coming weeks.

Shazam also announced today that it now has over 250 million daily users worldwide.