FANGO delivers on Social TV
Social influence, apps and companion experiences are changing the viewing experience
Sydney, Australia, 10 February, 2012 – Australians have a healthy appetite for social TV according to Yahoo!7, with the release of new research demonstrating that viewers are increasingly using mobile devices and social media to enhance their TV experiences while shows are airing.
The research, conducted by Yahoo!7, sampled 7,741 people from around Australia and polled them on their viewing habits, activities undertaken while watching TV and the influence of social media on viewing habits.
Top Line Social TV Research Results
- 41 percent of people reported posting on Facebook while watching TV
- 36 percent of respondents are using a mobile phone to text or call friends and family while watching TV
- People are more likely to use social media during or after a show
- Nearly 72 percent of people watch TV shows live on TV as they are airing
- 90 percent of people prefer to watch TV on a traditional TV set
These statistics support how people are using FANGO – Yahoo!7’s social TV app. FANGO has secured over 200,000 downloads since launch, averaging over 10,000 downloads each day. FANGO for iPhone was App of the week in the iTunes App store and FANGO for iPad reached the number one ranking in the iTunes App store.
With FANGO, people can check-in to their favourite TV shows including all free-to-air programs from 3pm-12am. They can let their friends know what they are watching; chat about shows and see what other people are saying on FANGO, Facebook and Twitter. FANGO offers show-related trivia, topical polls and gives viewers the ability to earn points and badges to reward their engagement.
During the Australian Open, FANGO brought together like-minded viewers with 100,000 fan check-ins during the tournament and the Hewitt vs. Djokovic match clocking up the highest number of check-ins. During the tournament one of the popular interactive elements of FANGO was ‘Open Mic’, the ability to send questions to Jim Courier to ask players during post match interviews.
Yahoo!7’s Social TV research also showed that online social circles influence our choice in programming with 27 percent of those surveyed saying that they have watched a TV show based on a recommendation from a friend via a social networking site. Similarly, 26 percent of respondents said that they had been made aware of a TV show because of something they saw on a social networking site.
“The research clearly shows that Australians love to watch appointment-based TV. The success of FANGO demonstrates a new way in which Australian television viewers can engage with shows FANGO brands and other fans, as the show is airing,” said Kristin Carlos, Head of TV, Yahoo!7. “FANGO makes it easier for viewers to engage with their favourite TV shows.”
According to Tim Worner, CEO of Seven Network Television: “Viewers are changing the way they watch TV and we’ve changed the way we produce shows to cater for this. Social and interactive elements aren’t an afterthought anymore, we are integrating them into the making of our shows.
“The initial numbers for FANGO during the tennis were very strong, and this enthusiasm has carried right on into My Kitchen Rules. At Seven, we’ve made it a priority to keep innovation at the very heart of our business and FANGO is yet another example of this,” he said.
The companion TV experience that Seven and Yahoo!7 are offering with FANGO will no doubt continue to influence the way in which television is produced in this country with more interactive and social elements being introduced into programming. We’re leading the next wave in TV innovation.”
FANGO is available now for iPhone and iPad. To download the latest version of the FANGO app, please visit the iTunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/id475261145?ls=1&mt=8 or visit: yahoo7.com.au/fango