TCN Media, the sales and marketing solutions division of TargetCast Networks, announced that it’s launching the company’s first iPhone application to support its expanding reach across the digital out-of-home media sector. As an operator of digital place-based media networks in major casual dining and fast casual restaurant chains across the country, TargetCast has the footprint (over 1,300 locations) and capital (VC funding from Claremont Creek Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson) to achieve great success in the still nascent DOOH industry.
TargetCast’s mobile application launch is significant in that it supports the company’s growth as a multi-faceted media company. TargetCast realizes that to succeed it must satisfy consumers’ content needs across a range of platforms. DOOH and mobile rise above traditional media outlets thanks to geo-targeted content and advertising. The foundation exists for location-based mobile services to converge with digital place-based advertising networks for the benefit of consumers and brands alike.
“TCN’s mobile application will allow the user to access branded incentives and information provided by our affiliate and advertising partners with one seamless application but with a skin unique to each chain’s brand” said Jerry Hall, TCN’s President/CEO. The goal is for our viewers who visit the restaurant to associate the application with a fun, easy way to interact with our content and the chain’s experience equally. For example, a TCN viewer will see the app promoted on our screen in an Applebee’s, she then downloads the free application to her iPhone and gets the Applebee’s icon on the phone to access food and beverage incentives, enter contests, play trivia, etc. However, if she leaves that location and goes into another branded location – perhaps an Einstein’s — now the iPhone app recognizes the customer as a member of the TCN network but an Einstein’s branded icon delivers the special offers specific to that chain.
“We have developed this application to assist our venues with their daily efforts to improve customer engagement and ROI. We will, however, offer a limited number of advertisers the opportunity to sponsor the application” Hall said.