The BBC on Wednesday launched its first
mobile app for international sports audiences, looking to capitalize on the increasing tendency of fans to turn to their smartphones for analysis and information.
The free app for iPhone
and iPod Touch devices — an Android version will follow soon — includes
a range of BBC Sport content such as live scores, stats, schedules,
standings and commentary. A customizable menu lets users highlight the
sports that most interest them.
Most fans will likely use the app to follow English Premier League
soccer and other major international leagues, but the app also focuses
on covering Formula One auto racing, rugby, golf, cricket and tennis.
Major events of international relevance in other sports will be covered
as well.
"More and more, we're finding that fans want to follow results on
their mobile devices while they're on the move," James Montgomery,
controller of digital and technology for BBC Global News, told Mashable in an interview. "That's the direction things are heading in, and this gives us another way to be competitive."
It's a smart move for the BBC to make, given fans' increased reliance
on mobile technology and the Premier League's global fan base and
top-dog status in world soccer . Montgomery says a third of traffic to
the BBC Sport homepage now comes via mobile. During major sporting days, he says, that figure can rise to 40%.
BBC Sport also recently introduced a responsive design mobile
site, which automatically resizes for smartphones and small tablets, as
the media giant seeks to continue adapting to the growth of mobile
technology. It will be interesting to see how many fans download the app
as opposed to simply relying on the improved mobile site, but either
way, the BBC looks well-positioned to serve the next generation of
global sports fans.
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