As the demand for content everywhere becomes greater, a surge of network and cable television phone "apps" has vitalized. Here are some of the latest.
- TV.com
This application allows you to access channels such as CBS Sports, The CW, and Showtime.
- VH1 Watch and Discuss Live Chat
Chat live while watching your favorite VH1 show. Think of it as a mobile chat room.
- CBS March Madness
CBS recently launched the March Madness app for the tournament. Starting March 19th CBS will be streaming every game live. Since live mobile TV is still in the early stages, it will be interesting to see what happens.
And it's not just for the iPhone any more. Content providers have realized the importance of mobile TV and are making their shows available across numerous mobile platforms (e.g. Android, Blackberry, etc.).
Additionally, with all things new I think there are a few things to consider with this platform. Content owners must embrace mobile as a new medium and craft new experiences that tap the unique characteristics of the mobile environment.
Some ideas that may help mobile TV break through are below.
- Create must-see programming that is only accessible via the phone such as clips that continue a story, possibly using footage that was not shown originally.
- Have interactive experiences that will provide plenty of opportunities for viewers to vote on a show or otherwise give their feedback.
- Don't rely on the 30-minute slot that works in traditional TV; the mobile environment allows for more creative uses of time outside of that format. For example, make a quick TV slot to fill short time gaps - like when waiting for the next bus to arrive. Or longer programs for the distant bus commute out of the city.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Mobile T.V.
Friday, February 20, 2009
iPhone app shelf life is less than 30 days.
New Pinch Media data reveals that "for free applications, only about 20 percent of users return to use the app the first day after they download it, and then it quickly drops off from there. By 30 days out, less than 5 percent are using the app...So there is a very brief window of time to capture people’s attention and potential revenues."
Implications/strategy for branded apps moving forward:
1. Add VALUE (utility, organization, efficiency, entertainment, convenience, etc.) or it instantly becomes nothing.
2. Launch app 30 DAYS OR LESS BEFORE BIG EVENT (new product launch, season premiere, box-office opening, etc...).
3. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. Constantly add new content; weekly, monthly, daily...whatever. Giving users a reason to come back.
4. Throw the app to bloggers PR style so they can spread it by WOM; their network.
5. Maybe the app isn't free? People may use it more if they have invested in it.
Article and Slideshare here:
http://tinyurl.com/cy43cc
6 Ways to Play Twitter - Winning Strategies for Brands On Twitter
Not a week goes by where someone doesn't ask me to quick-brainstorm a Twitter strategy for their brand. Then I roll my eyes and grimace as I believe most brands probably should not Twitter (because they really aren't willing to deliver on-demand responsiveness - just one among many factors unique to the Twitter platform.).
Nonetheless, here is an easy chart of 6 Ways To Play Twitter. Pin it on your wall if you're considering just how your brand may fit into the conversation on Twitter.
(click to enlarge or get.pdf or get.png)
Notes:
*All strategies don't fit all brands - do some soul-searching!
**And, yes, some strategies may be combined (like Mortal Combat button combos - "Finish Him!")
***If I'm missing some angles throw 'em at me in the comments (or @akispicer, as I reserve the right to update this chart with better ideas.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A Short History of Marketing
Shift Happened. Not news to you, but a clever clip nonetheless and client/deck-ready (when you've rehashed those other charts/vids saying the same thing to death).
from german agency Scholz & Friends.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Fallon Brainfood: The Mobile 10
On November 6, 2008 Fallon Strategic Planner Aki Spicer and Senior Producer Marty Wetherall conducted a one hour live presentation about mobile media, using mobile media (such as UStream and Qik)!
Presentation slides via Slideshare
Full presentation video via Google Video
The WINNERS of Fallon Brainfood TXT2WIN contest are: Drew Dayberry of VCU ($25 Apple card) and Pat Sidoti @ Fallon ($50 Apple card).
150 people viewed the presentation via UStream, here is a gallery of some who submitted a mobile photo during the presentation at http://fallon.fanchatter.com
Sponsors:
Contact On The Go Mobile Media at http://www.otgmm.com/ email: jmullin@otgmm.com
Contact FanChatter at http://stadium.fanchatter.com email: marty@fanchatter.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
Fallon Brainfood: The Mobile 10 Invitation
Fallon Brainfood: Mobile 10 Invite on 12seconds.tv
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Time: 12pm CST/1pm EST/10am PST
Location: Fallon Stage 24 (for employees) and the Interwebnets (for everybody else)
This will be a live presentation about mobile media, using mobile/social media! RSVP via Facebook.
*Don't worry, specific links and coordinates will be forthcoming on day of the event, you will not have to download or learn any new or complicated technology to participate, I promise.
What is Brainfood?
Brainfood is an all-agency lunch conducted by Fallon Planners. Wide-ranging topics explore trends, business issues, and actionable opportunities for our brands. Moreover, Brainfood offers us a chance to come together, share a beer and some pizza, and engage in a stimulating discussion on a variety of interesting topics that affect our business. Past Brainfood presentations have included trends and hot button issues such as Virtuality, Design For All, China Rising, Latin America in the Age of Web 2.0, Social 10-Trends in Social Media, Blogging the Agency, and more.
Missed previous Brainfoods? Go to + or + for a sampling
Friday, October 17, 2008
A Metaphor for Web 2.0: The Bubble Project
Consider this a living metaphor for Web 2.0 (in fact, he says so at the end):
This artist and his Bubbles are the Web 2.0 enablers sprouting up all over the web and mobile (YouTube, Dopplr, Yelp, Twitter, etc), inviting people to participate. People add value by contributing to the blank space in the Bubbles (without the contributions of the masses, the Bubbles are valueless). And well, the collective canvas and conversation starter is the ads (and TV shows and news).
Agencies and creatives now have the choice to acknowledge that these Bubbles will now increasingly pop up throughout the web (and the real world). We may even embrace these Bubbles and actually leave space for them and let their contribution make our communications ideas better/contextually relevant/innovative/participatory/engaging/personal/collaborative ("people add value"). Or not. We can pretend that our ad ideas are the special ones, and we won't ever be Bubbled over.
But it is likely that the Bubbles are coming whether you intend it or not. Don't fear the Bubbles! They don't have to be malicious threats to our idea, in fact, many are simply co-creative and collaborative additions that actually improve on and expand the communications idea (or they can be). And if the Bubbles are negative, we may need to ask ourselves why and is there some truth to be addressed in the Bubbles' response to our brands?
Either way its a fresh and slippy idea for our times.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sign of the (mobile) Times
Great image from NYT. Succintly outlines the opportunity and hazards of the coming age of mobile.
*btw Fallon Brainfood: Mobile 10 trends coming soon.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Community 2.0: Entourage on Whrrl
New social net Whrrl (think Yelp! meets Facebook meets Brightkite/Dodgeball meets Dopplr) is trying to gain groundswell with a nifty collabo with HBO's Entourage. Befriend the crew and get personal guides/recommendations/reviews of LA from the characters like they were "real" people.
More examples(+/-) of social media blurring the lines for "fictional" characters (stay tuned for a Case Study and vid of our own activity with Sci-Fi Network's Eureka TV show.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Community 2.0: Hurricane Gustav Information Center
A collective assembly of Gustav Information. Using Ning platform, the site aggregates content from a variety of social media resources, including; Flickr, Twitter, YouTube, Utterz, Technorati, etc.- all you have to do is tag the item gustav.
*Hopefully, this will be a merely academic exercise in pre-caution.
via Social Media Club
Seed Newsvine
