Perhaps the most interesting activation from the USA Ryder Cup Team sponsors, which also included Mercedes and Omega, was Samsung’s series of Ryder Cup apps across various devices.
Rolled out ahead of the tournament itself, Samsung’s aim was to enhance the US golf fans’ experience of the event and this was led by its connected Smart TV App which offered consumers multi-streaming and customisable graphics control like never before.
To ensure golf enthusiasts had a more rounded and participatory perspective on the bi-annual transatlantic competition, Samsung teamed up with the PGA Of America and broadcaster Turner Sports to release a series of Ryder Cup apps – led by its Smart TV version.
This not only allowed viewers to switch between live video feeds of individual matches on the course (provided by NBC and the Golf Channel), but also to have a real-time leaderboard right on the screen, have access to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, view course information through virtual hole flyovers and to swiftly and simply keep up with the specific progress of either Team USA or the European Team.
This Ryder Cup app works with most 2013 and 2014 Samsung smart televisions and it even continued after the tournament finished on 28 September.
In other words, it enabled golf fans to keep watching the highlights over and over again.
Further second-screen features, offered via a companion Android app, enable users to watch different streams on their smartphones or tablets.
Not only did its iOS and Android apps provide exclusive live streaming video for users within the US, while European users can access live updates to keep them up to date.
The brand’s activation also enabled all users can listen to live radio, get highlights, read the latest news from Gleneagles and see photos of the day’s action.
The apps are also customisable in terms of enabling each user to receive personalised news, videos and photos of favourite players.
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This approach mirrors a feature included on Samsung’s recent PGA Championship app – which saw the same triumvirate offer apps with similar features, plus the ability to use the app interactively with the tournament by taking part in the “Pick the Hole Location Challenge” hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
This latter feature enabled viewers to use their Samsung smart TVs to vote in real time and help determine the hole location to be used on the 16th hole during the tournament’s final round.
This technology looks set to be am activation mainstay for several of Samsung’s key sponsorships in the foreseeable future.
Links
Samsung Ryder Cup App Store
http://www.samsung.com/us/appstore/app/G00024724603
Samsung Ryder Cup App Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.turner.pgachamp2013&hl=en
Samsung Website
PGA Of America Website
http://www.pga.com/pga-america
Turner Sports Website
Ryder Cup Apps
http://www.rydercup.com/europe/htmlpage/ryder-cup-mobile-apps
Ryder Cup 2014
