Beamly

Last updated

Beamly
Type Private
Industry
Founded2011;12 years ago (2011)
Founders Ernesto Schmitt, Anthony Rose.
Headquarters
Area served
(formerly)
Key people
Jason Forbes (CEO)
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$ 120 million (2019) [1]
Number of employees
180
  • Based on suggested 2019 figures. In 2012, the employee figure was around 150.
Parent Coty, Inc.
Website www.beamly.com

Beamly was a social platform based in London, UK and New York City, United States. The company was founded in April 2011 as tBone TV, later renamed to Zeebox, by Ernesto Schmitt and Anthony Rose. It was started as a social discovery and engagement platform with 2nd-screen TV, creating the concept of social television.

Contents

Beamly, then called Zeebox, aimed to provide the optimal platform for connected television, making it a social and interactive viewing experience rather than the standard television viewing format. The platform allowed users to follow and interact with their favourite TV shows, as well as play games and take part in polls. It expanded to the US in September 2012 and into Australia in November.

Beamly took on funding from BSkyb, Comcast, NBCUniversal, Viacom and HBO. Its first round valued it at above US$150M. It was sold to the New York Stock Exchange listed S&P 500 component Coty, Inc. in 2015 for an undisclosed sum.

Business

Zeebox was founded in April 2011 as tBone TV Limited by Anthony Rose, the ex-CTO of the BBC iPlayer, and Ernesto Schmitt, entrepreneur and ex-Board Director of EMI Music. [2] [3] [4] The founding team also included Simon Miller (CTO), Max Bleyleben (COO), and Alex Nunes. [5] [6] [7] The company was renamed to "Zeebox" in August 2011 prior to its public launch in November of that year. [8] [9] It launched in IOS in December. [10]

Concept & Social integration

Zeebox original logo Zeeboxlogo.png
Zeebox original logo

Zeebox aimed to provide the optimal platform for connected television, making it a social and interactive viewing experience rather than the standard television viewing format. [11] [12] [13] At first glance, the showed the user what's currently on TV (taking in all the Freeview channels and some premium Sky and Virgin Media ones too), as well as displaying upcoming programmes. [14] [15] [16]

Through connecting Zeebox to the user's Facebook account, the service let the user pick what they were watching, as well as see what their Zeebox-using Facebook friends were watching, invite them to watch something "with" the user, instant message them or hide what you're watching with them. [17] [18] Smart TV integration made use of the iPad app as a remote control. [19]

Entry into international markets

United States expansion

In August 2012, it was announced that Zeebox would be expanding to the United States. [20] [21] It launched that September on IOS and Android. [22] [23] [24] It launched with strategic investments from Comcast, as well as from NBC Universal. [25] [26] [27] The startup also partnered with HBO to provide customised experiences around its own HBO original shows. [28] [29] For Comcast customers, the Zeebox app was available as a universal remote control, allowing users to quickly switch over to shows that they discover in the app. [30] Zeebox contained enhanced pages for 307 shows across 28 different NBC Universal networks. [31]

The Zeebox homepage from 2013 Zeebox homepage.png
The Zeebox homepage from 2013

Australian expansion

In November 2012, Zeebox launched in Australia. [32] [33] [34] This was part of a joint venture in Australia with Network Ten and Foxtel., [35] [36] In Australia, the app had been downloaded more than 350,000 times in 3 months, according to Network Ten's chief operating officer, Jon Marquard. [37] [38]

Advertising

Zeebox had extensive advertising campaigns including Jordan Klepper; many of which poked fun at "TV giants". [39] Featuring three 30 second TV ads, the campaigns featured Zeebox as TV's new sidekick, with TV sulking because ‘little brother’ zeebox is getting all the attention. [40]

Beamly

The company had 2 million active users by 2014, when it relaunched its website and iOS and Android apps on 14 April as Beamly, using further features that aimed to get people logging in throughout the day to chat about their favourite shows. [41] [42] [43] [44]

Changes

The Beamly platform encouraged people to "follow" individual TV shows, celebrities and other Beamly users, before serving them up a feed of activity and show recommendations. [45] [46] Shows each had their own "TV rooms" within the app where fans can chat throughout the day, and interact live with games, polls and other features when they're on air. [47] [48] The relaunch was also an attempt to respond to shifting TV habits, as people watch more shows on-demand, including from providers like Netflix as well as traditional broadcasters. [49] [50] [51]

Usage

In the 12 months from its relaunch in 2014, Beamly went from 2 million active users to over 10 million. [52] Trials lifted audience engagement by 72 per cent month on month. [53] Usage data showed that Beamly helped turn fans into super users, who on average visited the platform for more than 500 minutes and 21 times per week. [54] [55] In 2012, the app was opened about 27 times each month per user in the U.K., with each session lasting somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes apiece. [56]

During this time, Beamly was surpassing television chatting figures on sites such as Twitter. [57] [58]

Investments

In January 2012, BSkyB bought a 10% stake in Zeebox and announced plans to integrate the software with its offering. [59] [60] [61] [62] This stake was reportedly worth upwards of $15M, valuing the company at over $150M. [63] [64] In September 2012, Zeebox announced expansion into the US with a commercial partnership with Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, Viacom and HBO. [65] Viacom took a stake in October 2012, as well as Comcast and NBC Universal in September 2012. [66] [67] [68] [69]

Later History

COTY acquisition

Coty's Logo Coty Inc logo 2016.png
Coty's Logo

In October 2015, Beamly was acquired by COTY for an undisclosed amount. [70] [71] [72] [73] Through this acquisition, Beamly – now headed by Jason Forbes, evolved into a digital marketing and technology business with gross revenues exceeding $120M and a global team of over 180. [74] [75] [76] [77]

In October 2016, Coty, Inc. acquired $12.5B of Procter & Gamble's beauty brands, making it the largest fragrance manufacturer in the world. [78] [79] Coty used Beamly's technology to accelerate growth of its eCommerce business, while emerging as a digital beauty brand. [80] In December 2019 it was announced that Coty was overhauling Beamly, with the possibility of dissolving the company. [77]

Awards

The company has won the following awards:

In 2012, Zeebox was named amongst the Startups 100. [81]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Group</span> British media and telecommunications conglomerate

Sky Group Limited is a British media and telecommunications conglomerate, which is a division of Comcast, and headquartered in London. It has operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Sky is Europe's largest media company and pay-TV broadcaster by revenue, with 23 million subscribers and more than 31,000 employees as of 2019. The company is primarily involved in satellite television, producing and broadcasting. The current CEO is Dana Strong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showtime (TV network)</span> American pay television network

Showtime is an American premium television network owned by Paramount Media Networks, and is the flagship property of the namesake parent company, Showtime Networks, a part of Paramount Media Networks. Showtime's programming primarily includes theatrically released motion pictures and original television series, along with boxing and mixed martial arts matches, occasional stand-up comedy specials, and made-for-TV movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky UK</span> British telecommunications company

Sky UK Limited is a British broadcaster and telecommunications company that provides television and broadband Internet services, fixed line and mobile telephone services to consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of Sky Group and from 2018 onwards, part of Comcast. It is the UK's largest pay-TV broadcaster with 12.7 million customers as of the end of 2019 for its digital satellite TV platform. Sky's flagship products are Sky Q and the internet-based Sky Glass, and its flagship channels are Sky Showcase, Sky Sports and Sky Atlantic.

Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group. In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema on demand content are available through these as well as via Now TV, BT TV and TalkTalk TV.

Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

Paramount Media Networks is an American mass media division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of many of its television channels and online brands. Its related international division is Paramount International Networks.

Starz is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment, and is the flagship property of parent subsidiary Starz Inc. Programming on Starz consists of theatrically released motion pictures and first-run original television series. Created in 1994 as a multiplex service of Encore, Starz operates six 24-hour, linear multiplex channels; a traditional subscription video on demand service; and a namesake over-the-top streaming platform that both acts as a TV Everywhere offering for Starz's linear television subscribers and is sold directly to streaming-only consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All 4</span> UK video on demand service

All 4 is a video on demand service from the Channel Four Television Corporation, free of charge for most content and funded by advertising. The service is available in the UK and Ireland; viewers are not required to have a TV licence—required for live viewing and the BBC iPlayer on-demand service—when watching on-demand services. The service launched on 16 November 2006 as 4oD. The service offers a variety of programmes recently shown on Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4 and E4 Extra and shorts. However some programmes and movies are not available due to rights issues. The service was originally available without registration, but free registration was later required. The service is available without advertising on payment of a subscription, under the name All 4+.

Xumo Play is an American over-the-top internet television service owned by Comcast. Founded in 2011, it offers a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) and advertising video on demand (AVOD) service that primarily offers a selection of programming content licensed directly from various content distributors. The service's operations are based in the Los Angeles suburb of Irvine, California. As of October 2020, the service has 24 million monthly active users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGM+</span> American pay television network

MGM+, formerly known as Epix, is an American premium cable and satellite television network owned by the MGMPlus Entertainment subsidiary of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), which is itself a subsidiary of Amazon's MGM Holdings, Inc. The channel's programming consists of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures, original television series, documentaries, and music and comedy specials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movies Anywhere</span> Digital locker for movies

Movies Anywhere(MA) is a cloud-based digital rights locker and over-the-top streaming platform that allows users to stream and download purchased films, including digital copies redeemed from codes found in home video releases as well as digital purchases from participating services. Movies Anywhere is operated by The Walt Disney Company. The platform provides content from Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. The system utilizes an internal platform known as KeyChest, which synchronizes content licenses from digital distribution platforms linked to a central user account.

Clicker was an Internet video directory and search company based in Los Angeles, California. Their website aimed to be the TV Guide for all full episodes of programs available to watch on the Web. It is owned by CBS Interactive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV Everywhere</span> Authentication for streaming video

TV Everywhere refers to a type of subscription business model wherein access to streaming video content from a television channel requires users to "authenticate" themselves as current subscribers to the channel, via an account provided by their participating pay television provider, in order to access the content.

A smart TV, also known as a connected TV (CTV), is a traditional television set with integrated Internet and interactive Web 2.0 features, which allows users to stream music and videos, browse the internet, and view photos. Smart TVs are a technological convergence of computers, televisions, and digital media players. Besides the traditional functions of television sets provided through traditional broadcasting media, these devices can provide access to over-the-top media services such as streaming television and internet radio, along with home networking access.

HBO Go is a partly-inactive authenticated video on demand of the pay television service HBO. The service allowed subscribers to HBO via television providers to access its programming on-demand via the HBO website, mobile apps, and digital media players among other devices.

Awesomeness is an American-based film and television studio as well as a multi-channel based multilingual television network owned by Paramount Digital Studios, a division of Paramount Global. Established in June 2012 by Brian Robbins and Joe Davola, the network initially focused on children’s programs, teen dramas, comedies, live events, and music videos targeting adolescents and young adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernesto Schmitt</span> American-born entrepreneur

Ernesto Gottfried Schmitt is an American-born entrepreneur and investor. A founder of PeopleSound, Beamly and DriveTribe, he also founded venture capital fund The Craftory, with a $600m first fund for consumer goods challenger brands.

Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned and operated by the Paramount Streaming division of Paramount Global.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Rose (entrepreneur)</span>

Anthony Rose is a serial tech entrepreneur whose career has spanned across many sectors including the advent of 3D graphics, P2P music, video streaming, social TV, social platforms, and most recently, legal technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JioCinema</span> Indian subscription video on demand service

JioCinema is an Indian advertising video on-demand and over-the-top streaming service, owned by Viacom 18, a subsidiary of TV18. Launched on 5 September 2016, JioCinema's content library includes films, television shows, web series, music videos, documentaries and sports. After the successful merger with Viacom 18 in September 2022, Viacom18 shifted all its sporting content from Voot to JioCinema making it the digital sporting destination of the network. The mobile app is available for Android and iOS devices.

References

  1. "Renovata docs" (PDF), Coty, retrieved 11 July 2020
  2. Chibber, Kabir (15 April 2009). "The man who saved the BBC". Wired UK. ISSN   1357-0978 . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. "Ernesto Schmitt, CEO & co-founder, Zeebox". The Guardian. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. "Single Video Player". link.brightcove.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. "Campaign Live".
  6. zeebox. "zeebox Launches Augmented TV". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  7. "Vevo CTO exits in latest executive departure". Digital TV Europe. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  8. Jones, Derek. "'Madman' or pioneer for social TV?". mediatel.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  9. November 2011, Philip Hunter 07. "BBC iPlayer architect zooms in on social TV". TVTechnology. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  10. "Campaign Live - Zeebox IOS launch". Campaign Live.
  11. Lafayette, Jon. "Zeebox Becomes Beamly to Focus on Social TV". Multichannel. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  12. "Social TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly to lose 'male geeky' image". The Guardian. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  13. November 2011, Kate Solomon 01. "iPlayer creator launches Zeebox app for social TV viewing". TechRadar. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  14. Upbin, Bruce. "Zeebox: The App For The TV Obsessed". Forbes. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  15. "What is Zeebox?". The Independent. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  16. O'Reilly, Lara (10 February 2012). "Zeebox's click-to-buy will get tills ringing for Sky". Marketing Week. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  17. January 2012, Joe Cox 09. "Home". whathifi. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  18. Bryant, Martin (26 November 2011). "Zeebox: Social TV Done Right?". The Next Web. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  19. Brian, Matt (6 March 2012). "Zeebox iOS App Update, Adds Twitter and Smart TV Support". The Next Web. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  20. "Zeebox Is Coming To Shake Up Social TV In The US: Here's What It Looks Like". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  21. Smith, Interview by Chris (16 February 2012). "Ernesto Schmitt: focusing on the second screen experience". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  22. CNBC (4 October 2012). "zeebox Extends Industry Momentum; Forms Strategic Partnership With Viacom". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  23. Parker, Jason. "Zeebox makes second-screen TV watching fun". CNET. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  24. "British Invasion Of The Second Screen: Zeebox Arrives". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  25. Popper, Ben (27 September 2012). "TV's second screen heats up: Zeebox comes to the US with investment from Comcast". The Verge. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  26. "Comcast, NBCUniversal Take Stake in U.K. TV Companion App Maker Zeebox". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  27. "Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO". Engadget. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  28. "NBCUniversal, Comcast and HBO partner with Zeebox on U.S. launch". Los Angeles Times. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  29. Grainge, Paul; Johnson, Catherine (27 March 2015). Promotional Screen Industries. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-317-51372-8.
  30. "zeebox Makes U.S. Debut with TV Companion Experience". corporate.comcast.com. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  31. Robert Andrews (26 September 2012). "NBCU, Comcast buy in to Zeebox to take 'second screen' to prime time". gigaom.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  32. "Zeebox launches second-screen ad offering in Australia". www.theaustralian.com.au. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  33. "Zeebox launches in Australia". IMDb. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  34. "Zeebox lands in Aus with a click from Ten". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  35. "Foxtel signs Zeebox deal in second screen first" . Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  36. Smith, Paul (11 July 2012). "Ten brings Zeebox social TV to Australia". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  37. "Social TV app zeebox Australia partners with Foxtel". IF Magazine. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  38. "Zeebox Australia partners with Foxtel". B&T. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  39. "Zeebox Ad. Mom. | Mom, Ads, Style". Pinterest. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  40. "zeebox campaign by Mother set to launch". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  41. "Second-screen TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly - Music Ally" . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  42. "Social TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly to lose 'male geeky' image". The Guardian. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  43. "Social TV App Zeebox Relaunches As Beamly". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  44. "TV app Zeebox changes its name to Beamly, and hopes to grow by getting more social". Boston Herald. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  45. "Zeebox rebrands its 'new-fangled social TV guide' to Beamly, a social network for TV". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  46. "Zeebox TV Companion App Rebranded As Beamly, Adds Chat Rooms Hosted By Reality And YouTube Stars". Android Police. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  47. "Beamly teams up with Android TV to drive media innovation | Mobile Marketer". www.mobilemarketer.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  48. "Beamly beats Twitter for Eurovision engagement". TVBEurope. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  49. "Digital media + Media | Page 217 of 1123 | Media". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  50. C-Scott, Marc. "Double vision: why Netflix wants you to watch an extra screen". The Conversation. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  51. "Why Netflix wants you to watch an extra screen". SmartCompany. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  52. Beamly. "On Back of Record Growth, Beamly Unveils 'Frictionless Fun' to Give TV Fans Easy Ways to Engage with Their Favorite Shows 24x7". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  53. "Beamly reaches 10.4 million users in 12 months, unveils new easy way to engage with TV shows |". Telemedia Online. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  54. "Zeebox Rebranded as Social TV App Beamly". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  55. "Zeebox rebrands as Beamly". Digital TV Europe. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  56. Upbin, Bruce. "Zeebox: The App For The TV Obsessed". Forbes. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  57. "Beamly beats Twitter for Eurovision engagement". TVBEurope. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  58. Association, Media Financial Management. "On Back of Record Growth, Beamly Unveils 'Frictionless Fun' to Give TV Fans Easy Ways to Engage with Their Favorite Shows 24x7". Multichannel. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  59. "BSkyB buys 10 per cent stake in Zeebox application". Metro. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  60. Bradshaw, Tim (8 January 2012). "BSkyB buys stake in Zeebox start-up" . Financial Times . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  61. "BSkyB takes a 10 per cent stake in social TV site Zeebox". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  62. Trenholm, Richard. "Sky remote control comes to your smart phone". CNET. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  63. "Zeebox strikes major investment deal with Sky".
  64. "BSkyB buys 10% stake in social TV startup Zeebox for $15m+ | Music Ally" . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  65. "Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO". Engadget. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  66. "Viacom and Zeebox Help Social TV Enhance Live Commercials". adage.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  67. "Zeebox adds Viacom to its growing list of TV partnerships". VentureBeat. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  68. "zeebox Extends Industry Momentum; Forms Strategic Partnership With Viacom". www.businesswire.com. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  69. Andrews, Robert (27 September 2012). "NBCU, Comcast buy in to Zeebox". paidContent. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  70. "COTY Announces Acquisition of Leading Global Digital Marketing Platform Beamly". Coty. 18 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016.
  71. "Coty Acquires Content Agency Beamly As It Gears Up for P&G Deal" . Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  72. Roderick, Leonie (21 October 2015). "Why Coty bought social content agency Beamly". Marketing Week. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  73. Fildes, Nic. "Beamly up, Coty, the deal's done". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  74. "Renovata" (PDF).
  75. "Coty puts digital at centre of growth strategy by tapping Anthony Rhind for Beamly". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  76. "Coty's digital transformation EVP Chris Chesebro on DTC relationships, digital media and Amazon". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  77. 1 2 Shields, Ronan (3 December 2019). "Cosmetics Giant Coty Confirms Overhaul of Digital Unit Beamly". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  78. "Coty picks L'Oréal veteran as new chief executive". www.ft.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  79. "Coty takes near $1bn writedown on P&G beauty brands". www.ft.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  80. "Coty Completes Merger with P&G Specialty Beauty Business". www.businesswire.com. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  81. "Startups 100 2012 - zeebox". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-13.

Additional source