Online sports site The Roar is tapping into the mobile video trend with the launch of a new mobile TV service, and Foxtel is on board as a launch advertising partner.
The Roar, which is owned by Conversant Media, is aiming to tap into the growth of mobile video by providing sports highlights and video content. It is launching an iPhone app platform and building an Android version.
It already has 50 writers creating sports content, and fans write around 1,000 articles for the site and leave upwards of 100,000 comments a month, but it is making the leap into video to take a share of the growing online video market.
The site is will also create its owncontent and working with content providers including Channel Ten's news content to supplement its Australian sports coverage. It is also looking to user generated content, and inviting fans to submit short videos such as reviews of sports matches.
Zac Zavos, managing director of Conversant Media, told AdNews: “The future of media is mobile and video. And sport is the undisputed king of content in Australia. The Roar has launched The Roar TV to address this enormous opportunity. Sport is about leaning forward with media and consuming it passionately.”
The Roar site, which Zavos claims has grown revenue and audience tenfold in the last three years, clocks up around one million unique browsers monthly, according to its own internal figures. And also claims annual growth of around 25%, but Zavos declined to give any revenue figures to back it up.
Chris Smith, Foxtel's head of digital, said: "Foxtel has worked closely with The Roar for a number of years, accessing an audience that is highly engaged, passionate about sport, and at scale. Having seen an early version of The Roar TV we identified an opportunity for Foxtel Play. We’re excited about accessing this platform as a launch partner, reaching an important audience consuming short-form sports video on their mobile devices.”
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