Submissions for the 2016 Meffys are opening for entries soon, so we are taking a look at some of last year’s winners to find out what the prestigious industry award meant to them and what they’ve been up to in the 12 months since they celebrated their win.
Here we speak to Viacom International Media Networks and Gérald Biart, Director of Multiplatform Products & Business Development.
What did you win the Meffy for?
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) won a SOCIAL & ENTERTAINMENT Meffy for the Nickelodeon app (rebranded as Nickelodeon Play), one of VIMN’s branded application that gives parents and kids access to the very best of Nickelodeon on mobile devices.
Why do you think the judges picked your entry?
The Nickelodeon Play app which has accumulated more than 6.9 million installs to date was designed to promote intuitive discovery and exploration and to offer instant and on-demand access to more than 120 hours of Nickelodeon episodes, themed videos, original short-form animations and newly created games whenever kids want it and wherever they are.
Kids are in control and interact with Nickelodeon through a very creative and unique user interface.
What has your company been up to since winning last year?
Since last year’s win and following the announcement of Viacom Play Plex, Viacom International’s suite of branded TV Everywhere mobile apps, we have been working closely with existing & new distribution partners to offer their customers more flexible access to the best video content from each of our global channel brands whenever and wherever they want it.
Our applications are now available in 41 countries, with more than 7M downloads and 150M video streams to date since launch.
Gérald Biart
Director, Multi-platform Products & Business Development
Viacom International Media Networks
What are your plans for the year ahead?
We will continue to roll out Viacom Play Plex internationally.
Apart from your own, which mobile company, sector or region is most exciting to you right now and why?
There is a generational shift underway in media consumption. TV viewing is shifting from linear to non-linear and from single- to multi-screen, enabled by technology but driven by consumers.
So like-minded companies and partners that participate in offering more flexible access to better content and new opportunities to monetize it, are very exciting to us.
Meffys 2016 opens for submission Sept 1st! Visit Meffys.com to get the latest updates on how to enter.
