Stream.Digital in partnership with Creative Media Works, operating as BBM Messenger, today announced the launch of STAGE360 Music, a mobile music and content service. The service, a first of its kind in South Africa, is aimed at growing BBM Messenger’s monthly active users particularly within the young, urban demographic.
Matthew Talbot, CEO of Creative Media Works, the company which operates and runs BBM Messenger globally said that the launch of STAGE360 Music comes at a time when the role of messaging platforms in consumer and business life is set to grow exponentially. “As part of the ongoing roll out of the new and improved app, BBM Messenger will offer a content ecosystem over and above the core chat experience and drive engagement within its Discover menu and Channels.”
BBM Discover is a high-valued space within BBM Messenger, designed for high impact and reach while giving partners access to the power of social chat. STAGE360 Music sits as an icon within BBM Discover’s existing ecosystem of content and services, accompanying categories such as News, DiscoverTV (soccer, kids, life, planet, animals, extreme, fitness, food, cars), Football365 (Live Scores), Channels, Rewards (win airtime), Subscriptions, Stickers, Games and many more to come.
“This service takes into account the evolution of social media and the popularity of messaging apps as the go-to place in the digital environment. STAGE360 Music is a particular example of how we can give potential artists the tools, functionality and features to create a profile, share their music, and engage with their fans in an organic social environment,” Talbot explained.
The service is integrated into BBM Messenger using seamless user sign-in with both initial authentication and ongoing authentication to the user’s ID. Enriched social experiences are then delivered through personalisation of content and social sharing within the service. Stream.Digital, a division of Mortimer Harvey (Pty) Ltd, provides a direct-to-market digital video streaming platform with live and on-demand video content delivery to mobile and web. In addition, the service offers a Programmatic Channel Post functionality where users can manage and create channel posts directly via a programmatic interface.
STAGE360 and BBM Discover’s broader range of services demonstrates how messaging platforms can be harnessed to develop new ways of consuming, sharing and creating content. It offers users a new tool to easily navigate and find their preferred content within the BBM Channel.
“Music is just the first of the STAGE360 categories that BBM Messenger intends to launch. The goal is to create other categories that will fall under the 360 service such as comedy, short film and fashion,” says Talbot.
Download BBM via Google Play or the App Store. For more information, visit Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stage360live
About Stream.Digital
A division of Mortimer Harvey (Pty) Ltd, Stream.Digital is a direct-to-market mobile video distribution platform that allows you to get your brand straight into the hands of your customers, wherever, whenever, on the mobile platform of their choice. We stream live and on-demand audio and video content directly to any digital device, anywhere in the world. Our white label offerings allow you to brand your own mobile video content platform and deliver customised, brand-relevant content to your audience. Our content, marketing and digital technologies provide your brand with the best, cost-effective, end-to-end video solution, including mobile apps, and digital and social media marketing strategies.
About BBM
On 27 June 2016, Creative Media Works, a division of PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk. (Emtek, IDX:EMTK) – one of Indonesia’s largest media, content and technology businesses – announced a long term strategic alliance with BlackBerry Limited to accelerate consumer BBM’s research and development in offering new and exciting features, services and content to the global consumer market. As part of this strategy, BBM is making its APIs available to expedite the growth of partners and consumer services such as:
- Content – music and video streaming, games, sports, news, celebrity blogs, horoscopes and more
- Commerce – shopping, gifting and coupons/vouchers
- Online to Offline Commerce – booking movies, travel, health services, real-estate or job postings
- Finance – P2P payments, money transfer, mobile phone re-charge, and utilities billing
Creative Media Works now operates under the BBM banner as a stand-alone consumer focused business with teams operating from Waterloo, Mississauga, Ottawa, Singapore, Jakarta, UAE and South Africa. For more information, visit www.bbm.com.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BBM and BBM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, used under license, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved.
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
iOS is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. iOS® is used under license by Apple Inc.
Windows® Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries
