Raleigh, N.C., (July 1, 2010) -- News Over Wireless (NOW) and its local TV partners have launched applications to reach the growing number of consumers using Google’s Android OS.
The Android Apps started launching for NOW partners at the beginning of June and focus on each station’s unique content and branding. End users can find local news, weather, sports, traffic and more in the applications now available for free in the Android Market.
“Google recently shared that over 160,000 Android devices are activated per day which is almost 2 devices per second,” said Sam Matheny, NOW general manager. “Android has become the No. 1 mobile phone operating system in the US, and we are pleased to offer our station partners the opportunity to monetize this explosive growth and build their mobile presence with their own branded apps.”
The NOW Android Apps feature video, story-sharing tools, user-generated news reporting capabilities and current weather conditions on every menu. Users can scroll through stories using “next” and “previous” buttons, change the text size, expand photos and share the app with friends. As with the NOW iPhone Apps, the sharing tools leverage NOW’s Smart URL technology which detects whether the recipient of a shared story is on a PC or mobile phone and sends them to the correct site.
The Android Apps provide station partners with new advertising inventory in an easy-to-use application built specifically for the Android OS. Stations are already monetizing this new mobile platform by selling local banner and pre-roll video ads in addition to national ads. In support of their partners’ mobile sales efforts, NOW traffics all local ads, building landing pages and providing access to reporting and forecasting tools. So far this year, over 300 locally-sold mobile campaigns have been activated by NOW. More than 80 percent of the company’s partners with these products have sold local ads.
The apps are from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and independent affiliates all across the United States including markets like New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Philadelphia; Dallas; Detroit; Cincinnati; Baltimore; St. Louis; Tampa Bay, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C.; Providence, R.I.; Nashville, Tenn.; Mobile, Ala. and many more. Affiliates are owned by leading broadcasters such as Fox Television Stations Inc., Gannett, LIN Media, Meredith, EW Scripps Co. and others.
The company currently partners with nearly 150 local and national media companies providing custom iPhone Apps, mobile websites, SMS marketing, carrier-supported applications and video channels. These solutions reach millions of mobile users and create additional revenue streams for partners.
About News Over Wireless and Capitol Broadcasting Company
News Over Wireless is part of CBC New Media Group, LLC, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company. News Over Wireless works with broadcasters and wireless phone carriers to provide news and information on mobile phones through video channels, downloadable applications and mobile websites. For more information, visit www.newsoverwireless.com.
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, WDNC-AM, WCLY-AM, Microspace, CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV in Charlotte, N.C.; WILM-TV and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, N.C.; WRAZ-TV and The Durham Bulls in Durham, N.C.; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Project and Diamond View office buildings in Durham, N.C.