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The new NRL Official App: fans tested, we listened

Entertainment

Posted on March 9, 2018

2 min read

Rebecca Haagsma

by Rebecca Haagsma

Director of Product Development and Innovation - Telstra

In the words of North Queensland Cowboy’s captain Jonathon Thurston when we caught up with him this week, “there’s been a lot of player movement over the off season – so if you’re a fan, you’re certainly rubbing your hands together”.

And the return of footy also sees the launch of the full version of the new 2018 NRL Official App, which gives Telstra customers another reason to be rubbing your hands together!

Since we announced we’d be redesigning the NRL Official app late last year, Telstra Media’s Product and Innovation team have been working harder than ever in collaboration with the NRL, to make live matches available to as many fans as possible on the go.

Taking a fan-first approach, we’ve carried out user testing at each stage in the app redesign, and our latest fan feedback scored the first app iteration at 85.5 on the System Usability Scale, placing it in the “Excellent” range.

We again partnered with the US-based app developers Yinzcam to build the 2018 NRL Official App, and Telstra’s Design Principles of Market Leading, Digital First, Cloud Enabled, Simple, Right First Time and Help When Needed were front and centre of the product build.

Using fan personas and an agile approach to the rebuild, we have aligned the visual design and usability of the app to the new NRL.com responsive site.

Telstra customers will also have access to special features in the app such as augmented reality ‘Facepaint’- which was a popular and sharable feature during the 2017 season.

But of course, the live stream remains the hero of the app because we know fans want to watch footy when they are on the go – live, fast and data-free*.

Our ambition at Telstra is to be a world-classs technology company and this is really showcased in our sports products. We have amazing depth in terms of the product capability in our team, and when you put this together with our local sports rights and relationships with the sporting bodies – we’re leading the way in terms of building amazing sports products and experiences for Australian fans.

Download the NRL Official App now from the App Store or Play Store and register for NRL Live Pass to stream 2018 Telstra NRL Premiership matches live, fast and for Telstra customers, data-free.

* Excludes NRL Grand Final and State of Origin series.

Tags: apps and devices, NRL,

The Author

Rebecca Haagsma

Rebecca Haagsma

Director of Product Development and Innovation - Telstra

Rebecca leads the team responsible for Telstra’s AFL app and web products, AFLW app, NRL products and Netball offering - as well as the team behind Telstra TV. Prior to joining Telstra in February 2016, Rebecca was the Director of Digital Products for the Nine Network Australia, launching Nine’s live streaming and Video on Demand offering, 9Now. She has led transformation projects focusing on moving businesses from traditional media to new customer channels over the past 20 years.

Fans go mobile with record-breaking opening rounds

Entertainment

Posted on March 22, 2017

3 min read

Michele Garra

by Michele Garra

Head of Innovation & Strategy - Telstra Consumer and Small Business

We told you it would be a bumper year for sport, and the opening rounds of the NRL have us off to a flying start.

Rain, hail or shine, our data tells us that fans are watching even more live footy than ever before, and Telstra mobile customers are making the most of their AFL and NRL live pass. More mobile customers redeemed their Telstra Live pass in the first two rounds of the NRL than in the entire 2016 season.

The big moments from NRL Round 1-3:

Round 1 – The Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders saw us achieve a record number (over 64k) of unique viewers for a match.

Round 2 – We saw a 75% increase in the total minutes streamed during round 2 NRL when compared to same time last year.

Round 3 – The Dragons versus Sharks home game at Shark Park delivered the peak number of unique live streams for the round (56,069) and the third highest of all time.

What’s new on the AFL Live app:

The relentless pursuit for brilliant fan experiences sees us release a new set of features to the AFL app just in time for the season start on Thursday. We know that fans weren’t happy about the reduced screen size for tablets, so we have listened to feedback and created more stats and analytics that are accessible during the live game.

My personal favourite is the heat map which allows me to see where any of the players have picked up positions on the field during a game – it’s a great visual representation that you can’t get anywhere else, and it is exclusive to Live pass subscribers.

What’s next?

We will continue to enhance the user experience in the app throughout the season by further simplifying the activation process for Telstra customers. We’re also in the process of developing exciting new features that will be exclusive to Telstra mobile customers – stay tuned for more!

What is the NRL Live Pass?

  • Every 2017 NRL game live and data-free
  • In-game scoring highlights
  • On-demand full Telstra Premiership game replays from 2013 onwards
  • Live press conferences and other exclusive content

What is the AFL Live Pass?

  • Every match live and data-free during the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
  • On-demand full match replays from 2010 onwards
  • 24/7 AFL.TV
  • Special coverage of key events including the 2017 Charles Brownlow Medal, All Australian, NAB AFL Draft, NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and more
  • Coach Stats – see what the coaches see: live interchanges, time in possession, live goal chart and player heat maps

How do I get the AFL and NRL Live Pass?

  • If you are a Telstra mobile customer, access to the AFL and NRL Live Pass is included in your mobile plan. Simply download the AFL Live Official App and NRL Official App and follow the prompts.
  • A subscription to the premium content is available to all fans. Subscription prices for the AFL Live Official App and NRL Live App will increase from 28 March 2017. To secure the 2016 prices now, visit the app store for iOS or Google Play store for Android.

Tags: AFL, NRL, sport,

The Author

Michele Garra

Michele Garra

Head of Innovation & Strategy - Telstra Consumer and Small Business

Michele is a senior executive with 25 years’ experience in the content industry, across strategic and commercial roles in Australia, Asia and the United States. She is a senior marketing leader with experience launching new, high definition and digital home technology platforms. Her career spans a variety of content, sales, marketing and product organisations including Virgin Australia, Microsoft and Sony Pictures. Prior to Telstra, Michele was Vice President Retail at Optus Telecommunications (SingTel), accountable for more than $2.9 billion revenue and the telco’s primary channels to market, including 370 branded stores.

5 new features for the ultimate sports fans

Entertainment

Posted on February 24, 2017

3 min read

Joe Pollard

by Joe Pollard

Group Executive Media and Chief Marketing Officer - Telstra Media and Marketing

It’s a great time for sports fans – there is more sport to watch and there are more ways to access it. At Telstra, it’s all about the big 3 – AFL, NRL and Netball.

On the weekend we celebrated round one of the Suncorp Super Netball and this week we celebrate NRL as hundreds of footy fans descend on the steps of Martin Place in Sydney to officially launch the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership.

We know our customers love live sport. We want them to stream it fast, stream it live and stream it data free and so this year eligible Telstra mobile customers can access a Live Pass for the big 3 – AFL, NRL and Netball.

Of course, we want all lovers of the Big 3 sports to enjoy their favourite game – sport is for all Australians. This year, you will see a difference in the apps. We’ve listened to fans and worked with global experts to inject world class technology into the products.

Telstra’s vision is to be a World Class Technology company that empowers people to connect.  We believe the updated AFL, NRL and Netball apps give fans a world class sports experience and illustrate how Telstra is creating better ways to help our customers not only connect but also thrive.

I am personally very excited for the season ahead and to cheer on my beloved Manly Sea Eagles from the sideline or on the go with the NRL Official App.

Five new features for the ultimate AFL, NRL and Netball fans:

1. Easy two step sign up. If you are a Telstra mobile customer, you receive a Live Pass to the AFL, NRL and Netball app included in your plan or select recharges. Download the app and with two more taps you are through to the live game and premium content.


 

2. Hide scores feature. Missed the live game and trying to avoid spoilers? The ‘hide scores’ feature removes notifications so won’t receive score updates and you can catch up on the game in peace!

 

3. NRL Bunker decisions. Understand the rationale behind every decision during and after the game with bunker integration in the match centre.

 

4. Brand new AFL club apps. Are you a number one fan? Check out the brand new AFL club apps and access player profiles and stats, team song audio and lyrics plus ticket integration.

 

5. Live Netball on the big screen. The Netball season is in full swing and you can watch two games live each week on Telstra TV plus two games each week on 9GEM.

Tags: AFL, netball, NRL, sport,

The Author

Joe Pollard

Joe Pollard

Group Executive Media and Chief Marketing Officer - Telstra Media and Marketing

Telstra’s media portfolio encompasses a range of partnerships, content and platforms across subscription TV, streaming video, music, plus leading sport and news. The Chief Marketing Office provides marketing leadership and execution, including stewardship of the brand, cross-enterprise research, insights and analytics and Telstra’s sponsorship portfolio.

What’s on my Phone: Damian Martin

Entertainment

Posted on October 18, 2016

2 min read

Damian Martin

by Damian Martin

- Perth Wildcats

The AFL and NRL seasons have closed for another year and now our heads are turning to one of Australia’s fastest growing sports: the National Basketball League.

The NBL has grown from a fledgling competition with games played in front of just a few hundred people to a league that attracts more than 750,000 spectators each season.

Basketball also has one of the highest participation rates of any team sport in Australia, with numbers continuing to grow each year.

To celebrate that Telstra mobile customers can enjoy a FREE (RRP $30) NBL Live Pass to watch every NBL game live this season, we caught up with Perth Wildcats star player Damian Martin to find out what’s on his phone.

1) Layout

It allows me to put several photos together in one picture. Now that I am a dad I find myself putting together photos of silly positions my newborn gets in and comparing them to celebrity’s poses. My dad jokes aren’t funny but they have begun with the pics.

2) Uber

Gets a smashing. Give me a bottle of water and some gum and I’ll give you 5 stars.

3) Groupon

Love a discount on food, travel or random items. I’m hoping one of my favourite Mexican places doesn’t put a limit on how many $7.50 burrito and drink meals I buy. Love a good deal, although I may have gotten a little carried away when I bought the 12 head massages or the robot vacuum cleaner

4) Twitter

Bit of fun for catching up on, or sharing news. Also need it to follow Andrew Bogut’s funny comments. @damianmartin53

5) Backgammon

Use it to play against some team mates and friends. Jarrod Kenny has more chance of winning Australian of the Year than beating Jesse Wagstaff in a comp but it kills time on long flights and comes in handy during film sessions.

Want to watch NBL live and free this season? At home, simply download the NBL app on Telstra TV and on the go, check out how here: 

 

 

Tags: AFL, NRL, sport,

The Author

Damian Martin

Damian Martin

- Perth Wildcats

Footy streaming awards 2016

Entertainment

Posted on September 27, 2016

2 min read

Rebecca Haagsma

by Rebecca Haagsma

Director of Product Development and Innovation - Telstra

There’s the Dally M’s, the Brownlow Medal and the Telstra Premiership winners but who comes out on top when it comes to digital streaming? We’ve looked at the digital streaming habits of Australia’s most loved sports, NRL and AFL and collated the inaugural Footy Streaming Awards 2016.

Four years on since launch, the NRL and AFL official apps have attracted the biggest audience and subscriber growth in 2016 than ever before. And it’s no wonder – according to the 2016 Telstra Smartphone Index, sport comes out as a clear number one when looking at what Aussies are watching most on their smartphone.

As the hunger to keep up with every minute of live sport continues on the upward trajectory, the demand for access to high bit-rate live action increases. In one single moment during a nail biting game between Hawthorn and St Kilda on the 17th April, over 350,000 live streams were broadcast on the AFL official app through Telstra’s mobile network.

Here are the (sometimes unlikely) winners of the Footy Streaming Awards 2016:

NRL

Most watched play of 2016: Golden Point Match: Cronulla Sharks V Gold Coast Titans

Most popular game of 2016: Cronulla Sharks V Gold Coast Titans

Australia’s most popular team: Cronulla Sharks

The Game Australia couldn’t stop watching: Battle for the Minor Premiership: Melbourne Storm v North Queensland Cowboys

Fastest growing audience of 2016: Cronulla Sharks, Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans

 

AFL

Most watched play of 2016: Hawthorn V St Kilda ANZAC Weekend at 4pm

Most popular game of 2016: Freemantle Dockers V Carlton

Australia’s most popular team: Carlton

The Game Australia couldn’t stop watching: Carlton V Geelong Cats

Fastest growing audience of 2016: GWS GIANTS, Carlton, Sydney Swans

 

Watch the AFL and NRL finals live and with data free streaming! Learn more about the 2016 footy pass available for eligible Telstra Mobile Customers.

Find out more here: http://www.telstra.com/footypass

 

Things You Need to Know

Requires compatible device and software. Live matches only available in Australia. Screen size restrictions apply for tablet viewing. Data charges apply to download the App.

 

Header image: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images

 

Tags: AFL, NRL,

The Author

Rebecca Haagsma

Rebecca Haagsma

Director of Product Development and Innovation - Telstra

Rebecca leads the team responsible for Telstra’s AFL app and web products, AFLW app, NRL products and Netball offering - as well as the team behind Telstra TV. Prior to joining Telstra in February 2016, Rebecca was the Director of Digital Products for the Nine Network Australia, launching Nine’s live streaming and Video on Demand offering, 9Now. She has led transformation projects focusing on moving businesses from traditional media to new customer channels over the past 20 years.