After a bake off that included two other providers, Bob Prather's budding small-market station group chooses Frankly for web CMS, mobile apps, online video and OTT. Frankly will also supply strategic consulting and support services as part of the four-year deal.
Heartland Opts For Frankly Digital Suite
For its growing portfolio of small-market TV stations, Heartland Media wanted a common platform that would cover all of its digital media needs.
So, after a careful review of the options, it opted for Frankly, formerly Worldnow.
Under a just-signed, four-year contract, Frankly will provide the station group with web CMS, mobile apps, online video and an OTT app in addition to strategic consulting and support services.
Heartland, headed by Bob Prather, now operates seven stations in five markets and is waiting to close on the purchase of stations in five more markets.
The current porfolio: WTVA Tupelo, Miss.; WKTV Utica, N.Y.; KEZI Eugene, Ore.; KDRV-KDKF; Medford-Klamath Falls, Ore.; and, KHSL-KNVN in Chico-Redding, Calif.
“This win with Heartland Media affirms Frankly’s dominance in the market when it comes to providing local TV broadcasters with the best media management solutions out there today,” said Frankly CEO Steve Chung.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Lisa Bishop, Heartland’s chief digital officer, had considered two other platform providers, Lakana and GTxcel, before deciding on Frankly.
Heartland has been using Clickability for its web services, Bishop said. “It’s a great platform, but not the right fit for us anymore.”
What attracted her to Frankly was that it provided the full suite of platforms and services, and that all of them can be accessed from a single interface, Bishop said. “The savings will be in man hours and workflow.”
She said she was also impressed by Frankly mobile apps, noting that between 75% and 85% of the stations’ traffic now comes via mobile apps and mobile web
Frankly’s OTT app will let the group develop both linear and on-demand broadband channels, she added
Comments (0)