Beamly
![]() | |
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry |
|
Founded | 2011 |
Founders | Ernesto Schmitt, Anthony Rose. |
Headquarters | |
Area served | (formerly) |
Key people | Jason Forbes (CEO) |
Revenue | ![]() |
Number of employees | 180
|
Parent | Coty, Inc. |
Website | www |
Beamly (legally incorporated as Beamly Ltd.) was a technology company 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.
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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e4/Zeeboxlogo.png/208px-Zeeboxlogo.png)
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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Zeebox_homepage.png/251px-Zeebox_homepage.png)
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 April 14 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Coty_Inc_logo_2016.png/220px-Coty_Inc_logo_2016.png)
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:
- "App of the year" at the T3 Gadget Awards, 2012
- "The companion screen prize" at the Connected TV Awards, 2012
- "Overall Winner" at the Connected TV Awards, 2012
- Netexplo award winner 2012
- "Most Innovative Design Or User Interface" 1TVT Awards 2012
- "Best iPad app of 2012" Mashable, 2012
- Number 5 in the top 50 best iPhone apps, Time, 2013
- "Best Social Mobile or Apps startup" The Europas, 2013
- "Lovie Award Winner / Entertainment: Tablet" The Lovie Awards, 2013
- "Award for Technical Innovation" The DADI Awards, 2019
In 2012, Zeebox was named amongst the Startups 100.[81]
References
- ^ "Renovata docs" (PDF), Coty, retrieved 11 July 2020
- ^ Chibber, Kabir (15 April 2009). "The man who saved the BBC". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Ernesto Schmitt, CEO & co-founder, Zeebox". the Guardian. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Single Video Player". link.brightcove.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Campaign Live".
- ^ zeebox. "zeebox Launches Augmented TV". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Vevo CTO exits in latest executive departure". Digital TV Europe. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Jones, Derek. "'Madman' or pioneer for social TV?". mediatel.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ November 2011, Philip Hunter 07. "BBC iPlayer architect zooms in on social TV". TVTechnology. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Campaign Live - Zeebox IOS launch". Campaign Live.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon. "Zeebox Becomes Beamly to Focus on Social TV". Multichannel. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Social TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly to lose 'male geeky' image". the Guardian. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ November 2011, Kate Solomon 01. "iPlayer creator launches Zeebox app for social TV viewing". TechRadar. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Upbin, Bruce. "Zeebox: The App For The TV Obsessed". Forbes. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "What is Zeebox?". The Independent. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ O'Reilly, Lara (10 February 2012). "Zeebox's click-to-buy will get tills ringing for Sky". Marketing Week. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ January 2012, Joe Cox 09. "Home". whathifi. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Bryant, Martin (26 November 2011). "Zeebox: Social TV Done Right?". The Next Web. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Brian, Matt (6 March 2012). "Zeebox iOS App Update, Adds Twitter and Smart TV Support". The Next Web. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox Is Coming To Shake Up Social TV In The US: Here's What It Looks Like". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Smith, Interview by Chris (16 February 2012). "Ernesto Schmitt: focusing on the second screen experience". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ CNBC (4 October 2012). "zeebox Extends Industry Momentum; Forms Strategic Partnership With Viacom". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Parker, Jason. "Zeebox makes second-screen TV watching fun". CNET. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "British Invasion Of The Second Screen: Zeebox Arrives". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Comcast, NBCUniversal Take Stake in U.K. TV Companion App Maker Zeebox". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO". Engadget. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "NBCUniversal, Comcast and HBO partner with Zeebox on U.S. launch". Los Angeles Times. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Grainge, Paul; Johnson, Catherine (27 March 2015). Promotional Screen Industries. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-51372-8.
- ^ "zeebox Makes U.S. Debut with TV Companion Experience". corporate.comcast.com. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Robert Andrews (26 September 2012). "NBCU, Comcast buy in to Zeebox to take 'second screen' to prime time". gigaom.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox launches second-screen ad offering in Australia". www.theaustralian.com.au. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox launches in Australia". IMDb. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox lands in Aus with a click from Ten". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Foxtel signs Zeebox deal in second screen first". Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ Smith, Paul (11 July 2012). "Ten brings Zeebox social TV to Australia". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Social TV app zeebox Australia partners with Foxtel". IF Magazine. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox Australia partners with Foxtel". B&T. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox Ad. Mom. | Mom, Ads, Style". Pinterest. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "zeebox campaign by Mother set to launch". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Second-screen TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly - Music Ally". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Social TV app Zeebox relaunches as Beamly to lose 'male geeky' image". the Guardian. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Social TV App Zeebox Relaunches As Beamly". TechCrunch. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Zeebox rebrands its 'new-fangled social TV guide' to Beamly, a social network for TV". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Beamly teams up with Android TV to drive media innovation | Mobile Marketer". www.mobilemarketer.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Beamly beats Twitter for Eurovision engagement". TVBEurope. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Digital media + Media | Page 217 of 1123 | Media | The Guardian". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ C-Scott, Marc. "Double vision: why Netflix wants you to watch an extra screen". The Conversation. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Why Netflix wants you to watch an extra screen". SmartCompany. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Zeebox Rebranded as Social TV App Beamly". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox rebrands as Beamly". Digital TV Europe. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Upbin, Bruce. "Zeebox: The App For The TV Obsessed". Forbes. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Beamly beats Twitter for Eurovision engagement". TVBEurope. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "BSkyB buys 10 per cent stake in Zeebox application". Metro. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "BSkyB takes a 10 per cent stake in social TV site Zeebox". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Trenholm, Richard. "Sky remote control comes to your smart phone". CNET. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox strikes major investment deal with Sky".
- ^ "BSkyB buys 10% stake in social TV startup Zeebox for $15m+ | Music Ally". Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox second screen TV companion app crosses over to the US, with a boost from Comcast and HBO". Engadget. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Viacom and Zeebox Help Social TV Enhance Live Commercials". adage.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Zeebox adds Viacom to its growing list of TV partnerships". VentureBeat. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "zeebox Extends Industry Momentum; Forms Strategic Partnership With Viacom". www.businesswire.com. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Andrews, Robert (27 September 2012). "NBCU, Comcast buy in to Zeebox". paidContent. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ "COTY Announces Acquisition of Leading Global Digital Marketing Platform Beamly". Coty. 18 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Coty Acquires Content Agency Beamly As It Gears Up for P&G Deal". Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ Roderick, Leonie (21 October 2015). "Why Coty bought social content agency Beamly". Marketing Week. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ Fildes, Nic. "Beamly up, Coty, the deal's done". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Renovata" (PDF).
- ^ "Coty puts digital at centre of growth strategy by tapping Anthony Rhind for Beamly". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Coty's digital transformation EVP Chris Chesebro on DTC relationships, digital media and Amazon". The Drum. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ a b Shields|December 3, Ronan; 2019. "Cosmetics Giant Coty Confirms Overhaul of Digital Unit Beamly". www.adweek.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
:|last2=
has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Coty picks L'Oréal veteran as new chief executive". www.ft.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Coty Completes Merger with P&G Specialty Beauty Business". www.businesswire.com. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Startups 100 2012 - zeebox". Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
Additional source
- Richard Kastelein. "So Shall TV Be Disrupted? Or Democratised? Or is That the Same Thing?".
External links
- Semantic Web
- Software companies of the United Kingdom
- Social media companies
- Internet properties established in 2011
- 2011 establishments in England
- Coty Inc.
- 2015 mergers and acquisitions
- Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
- Software companies established in 2011
- British companies established in 2011
- Digital marketing companies of the United Kingdom