LaLiga North America expands US reach with GSTV content deal
via SportBusiness
US-based national video network GSTV has signed a content deal with LaLiga North America, through which it will show short-form content from the top tier of Spanish football.
LaLiga will begin offering exclusive highlights clips for GSTV from this week and the deal has been signed ahead of the start of the new season on September 12.
LaLiga becomes the first professional football league to offer content on GSTV, which also provides National Football League and Major League Baseball coverage.
GSTV reaches 92 million unique viewers a month.
Boris Gartner, chief executive of LaLiga North America, said: “We want to deliver LaLiga content to our fans wherever they are and partnering with GSTV adds yet another touchpoint with our US audience as we build on that strategy. We are excited to bring the action of the best soccer league in the world to one in three American adults across the country.”
LaLiga North America is a joint venture between LaLiga and Relevent Sports Group, and serves as the exclusive representation of the competition in the US and Canada for all business and development activities.
In June, LaLiga North America teamed up with global sportsbook operator PointsBet to create a new slate of gambling-focused digital programming to coincide with the league’s return to action.
C-store Industry Unites to Honor Frontline Heroes on 24/7 Day
NATIONAL REPORT — Convenience store and fuel retailers are joining together to honor first responders, medical personnel and American Red Cross volunteers who work around the clock for this year's 24/7 Day, scheduled for July 24.
The annual event — which started in 2019 — helps raise awareness and donations for the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross, and spotlights the c-store industry's critical role in supporting local heroes and the communities they serve.
More than 30,000 convenience and fuel retailer locations are participating in the 2020 celebration. Brands that are joining together with the NACS Foundation and participating in all or most of their locations include ampm, BP and Amoco, California Fuels and Convenience Alliance (CFCA), ExtraMile, High's, Huck’s, JJ's, Kwik Chek, Loop Neighborhood Market, Pilot Co., Rapid Refill & Garrett's Family Market, Rutter's, Sheetz (Community Leader Sponsor), Shell, The Market, Thorntons, Wawa and Yesway.
Each participating retailer is supporting 24/7 Day in its own way, including offering free in-store items to first responders, medical personnel and Red Cross volunteers on July 24 to thank them for their work in local communities.
Additionally, GSTV, the national video network entertaining targeted audience, was named the official 2020 media partner of the NACS Foundation. The company will support the association via video content at fuel dispensers across the United States at more than 24,000 locations, reaching 95 million unique viewers.
GSTV has also created a charitable match program with partners joining the NACS Foundation.
"We know more and more consumers are seeking out positive, uplifting content, and for millions of Americans filling up their vehicles every day, GSTV has become a bright spot for entertaining and informing those communities," said Sean McCaffrey, president and CEO of GSTV. "We're thrilled to partner with the NACS Foundation to support their important community-based initiatives and share with our viewers how they can participate."
Convenience stores support local organizations and charities, contributing and collecting more than $1 billion annually to charities. The NACS Foundation unifies and builds on NACS members' charitable efforts — amplifying the industry's power to positively impact the lives of individuals and families of all ages, in neighborhoods of all sizes, across America and beyond, according to the association.
"We're excited to work with GSTV to keep consumers up to date with the latest developments and achievements in our mission to propel brighter futures," said Stephanie Sikorski, executive director of the NACS Foundation.
The NACS Foundation invites the convenience industry and the public to take part in 24/7 Day by:
Donating to support the American Red Cross' work in communities around the country;
Learning more about disaster response, relief and preparedness in communities and the American Red Cross’ work year-round; and
Sharing stories to celebrate and honor lifesaving work of front-line heroes on social media using the hashtags #247Day, #WeHeartHeroes and #conveniencecares.
GIVING BACK
Here's how some of the NACS Foundation's c-store partners are participating in 24/7 Day and its cause:
Rutter's
York, Pa.-based Rutter's is teaming up with some of its top vendors for "Feeding the Frontline," where front-line workers will receive a free meal at the c-store retailer's locations across Pennsylvania, Maryland or West Virginia as a thank you for their hard work and dedication.
The meal will consist of a grab-and-go sandwich or wrap, a bag of chips and a regular fountain drink. The offer is available to First Responders in uniform, medical or active duty military with ID and Rutter's store employees.
The free meal is available to the first eligible 200 customers per store. Limit one per customer.
Rutter's has also partnered with the American Red Cross for the month of July and will be collecting money through their monthly Charity Canister program to help support local Red Cross initiatives. Customers will be able to make monetary donations to the organization at any Rutter's location.
"Rutter's is proud to support our front-line workers, including our fantastic store employees, during these challenging times," said Scott Hartman, Rutter's president and CEO. "Being able to support the front-line and give back to our communities, through the Red Cross and Rutter's Children's Charities, is needed right now and we're happy we can help."
Additionally, from July 18-23, Rutter's plans to give away $1,000 a day to different local charities supporting first responders. On July 24, the retailer will donate $5,000.
Yesway
Des Moines, Iowa-based Yesway is supporting 24/7 Day by offering a free fountain, frozen or coffee beverage of any size to police, fire, EMTs, doctors, nurses, health practitioners, 911 dispatchers and American Red Cross volunteers who visit any of its Yesway or Allsup's store locations on July 24.
"At Yesway, we believe that we have a duty to support the communities we serve. We are proud to join with the NACS Foundation and all of our c-store industry colleagues to celebrate 24/7 Day and are grateful for the first responders, police, fire, medical personnel, and American Red Cross volunteers who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of our fellow citizens and communities every day," said Tom Trkla, chairman and CEO of Yesway. "Every community has its share of these true difference makers, and we want to acknowledge and support them and the terrific work they are doing. On behalf of everyone at Yesway and Allsup's, we would like to thank our hometown heroes on 24/7 Day 2020."
The c-store retailer is also using the occasion to show its appreciation to thousands of Yesway and Allsup's front-line heroes by rewarding them with free dispensed beverages throughout the week of July 24-31.
Kwik Chek
Spicewood, Texas-based Kwik Chek is supporting this year's 24/7 Day by offering a free breakfast — including a fountain drink or coffee — and breakfast biscuit sandwich, taco or pastry to any doctor, nurse, EMT, law enforcement/police, county sheriff, highway patrol, firefighter, border patrol, 911 dispatcher and American Red Cross volunteer.
"At Kwik Chek, we understand the importance and dedication it takes to serve our communities around the clock, and we can’t think of anyone who deserves recognition more than first responders, medical personnel and volunteers," said Kevin Smartt, CEO of Kwik Chek. "We are honored to take part in this year's 24/7 Day and we will continue to serve the needs of our local heroes by offering fresh food and essentials that get communities by, especially during tough times."
Tiger Fuel Co.
The Markets of Tiger Fuel Co. will also honor first responders, healthcare providers, military personnel and disaster relief volunteers who work around the clock to support our communities.
All nine c-store locations will recognize paramedics, EMTs, police officers, firefighters and medical professionals who present a valid I.D. with a complimentary fountain drink or hot coffee (any size) as a way of saying "thank you."
The gourmet-to-go deli stores will express appreciation to police officers and firefighters on July 24 with a special meal delivered to a number of police and fire stations located in Charlottesville City, Albemarle County, Greene County and Locust Grove, Va.
"The first responders and medical personnel are truly inspiring to us and continue to fight through this pandemic, working non-stop to keep our communities safe," said Gordon Sutton, president of Charlottesville, Va.-based Tiger Fuel Co. "We'd like to express our appreciation to all of them on 24/7 Day and hope that this small gesture will help fuel these first responders as they work through this challenging time. It is our privilege to take some time out of our day to thank these local heroes."
The Markets also hosted a number of giveaways on their Facebook page throughout the week, encouraging customers to share stories about local first responders and hometown heroes who are deserving of a catered meal or bagged lunch.
Pilot Co.
On July 24, as part of NACS Foundation 24/7 Day, Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Company is recognizing doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, police, fire and American Red Cross volunteers for their work around the clock to serve our communities.
As a thank you for their service, emergency personnel are eligible to receive one free Pilot fountain drink or Pilot coffee, any size, at participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers, Pilot c-stores, and owned and operated One9 Fuel Network locations.
For Brands Seeking True Attention, Perceptions of DOOH and Place-Based Must Change
By: Sean McCaffrey, President and CEO, GSTV | via OAAA
We’re in the thick of IAB’s NewFronts week, when brands tune in to presentations from Snap, TikTok, YouTube, Roku, GSTV, and others. Presenting alongside notable digital and video platforms, OTT and CTV newcomers, and others across the media and entertainment landscape, how does a platform like ours — rooted in legacy “placed-based” association, yet boasting video partner-like capabilities — fit in?
Historically, it wouldn’t. Part of our reason for being here is to continue shifting the narrative around what that means, because for us and others, it has evolved dramatically and demands a closer look. There is significant opportunity for brands seeking real attention and engagement and the ability to reach consumers at scale to deliver meaningful business outcomes.
Media buyers are tearing up playbooks and focusing on proving to clients that their investment drove sales lift and ROI, creating massive opportunity for DOOH publishers to change perceptions and refocus marketers’ thinking on what true scale, attention and impact can mean. Why? Because efficiency and impact are more important than ever to earn a place in media strategies.
We need to move beyond screens and towards obsessing over audiences, behaviors and impact — and how DOOH has a valuable place in media plans to deliver on those outcomes.
The OOH industry classically prioritizes the physical nature of billboards and screens — geographic location; proximity to destinations; display and resolution; one-to-many audience ratios — context and cost. Location is important, however, marketers miss a bigger POV by not investing in DOOH. The DOOH industry has rapidly evolved from static environments into dynamic, engaging, attributable video platforms with similar, and sometimes larger, audience scale and measurable returns than other household name video publishers.
Consider how DOOH platforms fit consumers’ state of mind, the place in their journeys before and after as behavior shifts, and how we connect, amplify and impact the entire comms planning strategy and media mix.
Video buyers are aware that DOOH platforms have become dynamic and share traits of traditional video platforms they love, but perceptions are hard to change. In a recent OAAA Lunch Break, Essence Global Chief Media Officer Adam Gerber shared that while both watching a show on the couch or scrolling through the phone and seeing a billboard are valuable from the POV of agencies and marketers, those experiences aren’t equally weighed.
What differentiates them is the notion of attention. While TV and walled gardens may be the de facto buy for premium experiences and captive environments, what marketers forget is consumers are screen surfing and likely to see both while not paying attention to either.
We hear this regularly from buyers new to GSTV who are surprised to learn that we are more than our 24,000 locations, and more than just video: Our platform engages a captive audience surrounded by important purchase decisions, during a moment when consumer attention and engagement is at the forefront.
The renewed interest in DOOH, and its rapidly evolving definition, has opened the window for companies like ours and others to make these points clear. We should embrace disruption and seize opportunities to accelerate the pace of change. “Place-based” is an oversimplified idea that fails to capture the depth and evolution of DOOH, and reconsidering the DOOH opportunity for consumer attention, engagement and action are in the best interest of every ROI-focused brand.
Convenience Store News: Make Converts Out of Gas-Only Customers
By: Tammy Mastroberte | Convenience Store News
In the June issue of Convenience Store News, GSTV’s Eric Sherman, SVP, Insights & Analytics, and Dan Trotzer, EVP, Industry speak to the challenge fuel retailers face in pump-to-store conversions, and showcase how GSTV has become a valuable asset for capturing consumer attention and driving foot traffic.
Read the article HERE.
Social Geek: Location-Based Video: Sean McCaffrey
By: Jack Monson | Social Geek
Today’s guest is Sean McCaffrey, CEO of GSTV. Sean shares the story of the boom of location-based video advertising and content. We discuss how his team, advertisers, and brands are pivoting to due to Covid-19 and what trends and consumer behavior might linger.
Listen to Sean’s interview here.
A Shark's Perspective: Interview with Sean McCaffrey - Fueling the Growth of a Video Ad Platform
Conversation with Sean McCaffrey, the President and CEO of GSTV, a national video network and platform delivering targeted audiences across tens of thousands of fuel retailers in over 200 DMA’s reaching 1-in-3 adults.
Listen to Sean’s interview here:
https://soundcloud.com/asharksperspective/216-fueling-the-growth-of-a-video-ad-platform
Adweek: Why CES Has Become a Must-Do for Marketers and Agencies
GSTV's Sean McCaffrey on what to expect at CES 2020
By: Sara Jerde | Adweek
The schedule at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is full of sessions related to OTT and connected TV, new tech in the travel industry and even a surprise speaker in Ivanka Trump (who is expected to talk about the administration’s policies regarding technology education for workers).
We chatted with Sean McCaffrey, CEO and president of video network GSTV, about what he’s expecting at CES 2020 and how the event has changed.
This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What are you looking to get out of CES this year?
It’s a great place to rocket into the new year, where everybody comes back from the holidays and crash lands into this massive show. A huge percentage of people who go to the show probably don’t even hit the convention center, because there’s the whole other tribe of marketers and publishers that take over conference rooms and hotel rooms to talk about the latest innovation. A new phone might be a great consumer device, but it disrupts advertising models, it changes content distribution.
As a unique video platform, we’re there to talk to partners that know us already, like brands and agencies. We’re there to talk to partners that can help our business and add value to those brands and agencies like data partners, video platform partners and so on. Companies we already work with—publisher partners, content creators and makers—a lot of them are there. It’s a place where a high level of folks across the industry come together.
How have you watched it change?
This is my seventh year. Even in that short time, I’ve seen it change from really just a core tech show into a place that marketers, brands and agencies feel like they have to be because technology innovation can have really massive impact on advertising models and consumer connection. For us as a smaller publisher, competing in a sea of giants, it’s a place where top-to-top conversations come together to start the year.
Everyone is so overscheduled that everyone has tried to coordinate and consolidate conversations and content. People have gotten smarter about how they use their time there. People have also gotten realistic about what they expect from the show.
I think some of the overinvestment has faded. People are smart; how they spend their money, for their brand and their company, as well as the kind of conversations they schedule. One of the things I used to barely hear that I’ve heard from at least a dozen people this year: ‘If I can see you in New York, I’m not going to see you at CES.’ And I think that’s smart. People want to use their time wisely.
How does CES compare to the types of conversations you have with potential brand partners at other conferences, like Cannes?
They’re different from a calendar standpoint. CES starts the year, and the show is supposed to be built around innovation, but now it’s the place most publishers talk about what they’re doing differently in the year ahead. It’s a unique combination of marketers, brands, content creators and makers, technology companies, ad tech companies and investors.
Converse to Cannes. Cannes is a more global show and it comes from an ethos originally of creativity. It brings a different type of attendee.
As the ad-tech marina is to Cannes, so too is the private hotel suite in a Vegas hotel high rise. It’s a place where those sorts of people are both looking to make deals, but the overall ethos of the show is different. For Cannes, it’s after the upfronts and NewFronts. It’s later in the year, after a number of big media investment decisions have already been made, it’s not necessarily as much about what’s going to happen in the year. It’s also a reflection backwards on the first half and ahead to the second half.
What trends from the media industry do you see dominating the conversation this year?
The changes in data privacy, how will that impact marketing plans? And how will it impact platforms? Everyone is talking about it, everyone’s planning for it, but it’s finally becoming real as the laws go into effect. So, the confluence of ad tech, martech, brand, agencies and so on, people are really trying to understand what that will mean on a go-forward basis.
The OTT/connected TV space is a really interesting one where that’s going to dominate the discussion this year, because it’s consumer technology.
Any advice for a CES first-timer?
Wear very comfortable shoes. Eat when you see food because you might not know when you’ll be eating next; you’re going to be talking so much. You’re told to bring all sorts of SPF to Cannes. And despite it being Vegas, you need to bring a winter coat.