Bloomberg TV (which has studios in New York, London and Hong Kong) has launched a new iPad app where they will be streaming their full 24-hour broadcast to anyone with an iPad, over WiFi or 3G. Bloomberg’s decision to make their TV content available to any iPad user sets an extremely innovative precedent in a TV world dominated my network-MSO relationships.
Under the leadership of Oke Okaro, Global Head of Mobile at Bloomberg, the app also offers customizable on-demand content based on location and topic, and in the near future iPad exclusive content. Lost Remote interviewed Okaro to learn more details about how the launch:
Lost Remote: Why did you decide to launch this app now? Why only iPad?
Oke Okaro: Our number one priority is to be where the users are — to deliver content how they want it. iPad was a good place for us to start with our television app. Editions for other devices will come in due course.
LR: Who helped build this app?
OO: We built the app ourselves in-house.
LR: What are the key features?
This is a free live streaming, 24/7 video experience for business news on the iPad. There’s also original content, featured videos with the day’s biggest stories, access to on-demand episodes of programs like Game Changers and TechStars, clips of interviews and breaking news (all HD quality).
While the app’s main focus is video, users can also get live market data and related news for companies mentioned in videos. You can customize Bloomberg’s familiar scrolling ticker.
Other added features include the ability to watch in landscape or portrait, download videos for offline viewing, search the content library, schedule reminders for upcoming shows, and share via social networks.
LR: Are there any advertisers involved?
OO: The lead advertising launch partner is Credit Suisse, and premier sponsors are Johnnie Walker Blue, OppenheimerFunds, NYSE Euronext, and Verizon.