The magazine will reflect Virgin Media’s customer communications strategy to engage and interact with customers and encourage discovery and exploration of the full range of Virgin Media’s next generation entertainment, broadband and mobile phone services.
Virgin Media’s magazine will be the first ever customer magazine, says Redwood, to make use of augmented reality technology within its editorial pages. The augmented reality app, called “Blippar”, allows customers to bring the opening section of the magazine alive and access exclusive video content. In the launch edition, “Blippar” will include a guided tour of the new magazine from Richard Branson, plus games, trailers and exclusive content related to TV shows, films and video games for the month ahead.
Taking customers on a voyage of discovery through the huge breadth of content provided and enabled by Virgin Media’s next generation entertainment, broadband and mobile services, the magazine taps into customers’ passions, from cooking to gardening, sci-fi to US drama, seeking out the latest and most exciting content available to ensure Virgin Media customers know about it first.
Published bi-monthly, it will be distributed to around 500,000 customers and will be complemented by a wider customer engagement programme, also delivered by Redwood, including a weekly email giving customers entertainment inspiration for the week ahead, and a daily mobile app that will go live in March.
Chris Bibby, director of direct marketing at Virgin Media, said: “We offer a world of entertainment, catch-up, on demand, HD, 3D and live TV to our customers and our new magazine will help them find the perfect choice for them. 2012 promises to be an unforgettable year and we’re here to help our customers enjoy every minute of it.”
The new magazine and associated content has been designed and created by Duncan Spires and is edited by Mark Hooper.
Sara Cremer, group editorial director at Redwood commented: “We are extremely proud of the new Virgin Media customer magazine and all the associated content that we have created to drive customer engagement. Working with a brand like Virgin Media presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible and we have truly delivered on this project with an industry first in-magazine augmented reality app. We are confident that customers will relish the experience provided by the magazine.”
