May 4 – Music legend and multi-media entrepreneur Dave Stewart is releasing a version of his BeMyBand multi-media global format into the football market. The format technology and app is for federations, leagues and clubs who want to engage with fans in a positive and active environment, potentially identifying untapped talent but also generating interaction and loyalty.
The project encourages diversity and promotes inclusiveness irrespective of a user’s background geographically, economically or socially.
The BeMyBand format allowed budding musicians to interact directly with Stewart from around the world. It generated over 15 million interactions with fans and musicians who were competing for the opportunity to join Stewart’s band on tour.
“The big aim is to find missed talent whatever their background and give it a level playing field of opportunity to develop and breathe as we have done very successfully in the music industry with new talent formats. It also brings the fans and the teams closer in a real way that is engaging and fun,” said Stewart.
The BeOurPlayer format follows a similar principle to Stewart’s band format. Players can upload their videos – either to a prescribed format or freestyle – that coaches, scouts, friends and supporters can view and vote on.
Uploaded videos can be serious football driven content to showcase talent, whatever their level of ability, or can be more fun and engagement driven to win prizes and experiences. The platform is open to all fans to engage with content and comment.
“The whole point is to bring the fans and the teams closer in a way that is engaging and fun. Not everyone can play at the highest level but it doesn’t mean that they can’t participate and be part of the action rather than just being a passive watcher on TV,” said Stewart.
“If we manage to go to the next step and find new talent for a youth team that could potentially make it through to the big league then even better. Certainly the opportunity to give that talent the room to breathe and express itself is within the format.”
The BeOurPlayer format was co-developed by Stewart and Adam Shaw, who produced Ideas Britain which sought fan engagement ideas and technologies for Manchester City alongside mentoring and investment.
“BeOurPlayer seeks to be a platform that encourages diversity and opportunity to any budding player irrespective of their background or start in life. It harnesses the passions of young football players and their supporter and friends in a fun, collaborative and democratic format opening themselves to opportunities and networks beyond their natural circles,” said Shaw.
“Within three clicks, skills can be captured, shared, commented on and up-voted using a familiar social media format.”
At the core of the proposition is the opportunity to engage directly with the club or a brand. Using in-app coaches and scouts with social voting by the crowd, and optionally alongside live events, the app stretches the digital journey into positive physical activity creating content and real outcomes in terms of rewards, which can be anything from free match tickets, trials to elite youth programmes or invitations to training days.
The platform embraces the multiple possibilities of digital media and fan engagement as well as giving access to talent identification. It widens the net of the player search in a modern and interactive way and uniquely engages fans with their football passion on a club and entertainment level.
The BeOurPlayer format can be a pure football performance and talent spotting tool, a fan engagement mechanism or even an activation for a sponsor driven campaign.
Dave Stewart and Ideas Britain are partnering with Insideworldfootball for a territory by territory launch in September this year.
It can be delivered as format for a partner to activate using their own people and resource, or as a fully produced media product.
For more information contact moc.l1734863411labto1734863411ofdlr1734863411owedi1734863411sni@r1734863411eyalp1734863411ruoeb1734863411 or moc.l1734863411labto1734863411ofdlr1734863411owedi1734863411sni@n1734863411osloh1734863411cin.l1734863411uap1734863411
