The “Starbucks Digital Network,” available in Starbucks stores via WiFi, serves up a collection of hand-picked premium news, entertainment and lifestyle content along with local insights and events. Starting 10/20, customers with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, tablets or smartphones can visit the network while in line or while enjoying their favorite beverage in the café. The network is found in nearly 6,800 U.S. company-operated Starbucks.
Content spans six channels: News, Entertainment, Wellness, Business & Careers, My Neighborhood and Starbucks. Newly signed content providers include Bookish Reading Club, Foursquare, GOOD, LinkedIn, New Word City and The Weather Channel.
Launch week kicks off with a trio of exclusive offers on the Starbucks Digital Network’s Entertainment channel including free music tracks, a movie clip with charitable ties and a novel sneak preview. Straight from iTunes, customers get exclusive free access to two songs and a video from new band Fistful of Mercy featuring Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison.
Movie fans can enjoy a special clip from the Paramount Vantage film, “Waiting for ‘Superman’.” Every customer who buys a ticket for the film will receive a $15 DonorsChoose.org credit to use in support of a classroom project in his or her community.
Rounding out the trio is an extensive excerpt from “Rescue”, the new upcoming novel by Anita Shreve. Available from Hachette Book Group, only Starbucks Digital Network customers get an exclusive sneak peek of “Rescue” before it hits shelves on 11/30.
In the News channel, customers have free access to New York Times Reader 2.0, WSJ.com and USA TODAY eEdition providing access to news as it hits around clock. These subscription-based services are free to customers. Yahoo! News and Yahoo! Sports will serve up additional stories. GOOD is the latest addition to the channel, bringing new infographics to the network two days prior to appearing on www.good.is.
Leading the entertainment channel, iTunes features music and videos as well as the digital version of the successful Starbucks/ iTunes Pick of the Week card program, supporting the discovery of new music. Joining the cast of the digital network’s Entertainment channel are two content groups from the publishing world, Bookish Reading Club and New Word City.
Serving as the primary wellness contributor to the Starbucks Digital Network, Rodale offers specialized digital content including articles, recipes and videos from Rodale.com, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Prevention, Organic Gardening and Eat This, Not That! as well as a custom “Map my Ride, Map by Run” app that helps customers find new routes in their local community for fitness or fun.
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 80 million members across the globe, heads up the Business & Careers channel and offers early access to a career-focused blog, an exclusive video on job seeking tips hosted by Lindsey Pollak, a career coach and LinkedIn ambassador, and job suggestions delivered to customers based on profile matching and keyword search. For customers interested in the LinkedIn Jobseeker Premium account, a 30-day trial is available. Yahoo! Finance will feature Laura Rowley’s Money & Happiness blog and How-to Guides bringing financial advice and tips to the network.
With a goal to deliver relevant, localized content, the My Neighborhood channel, brings Foursquare to a line-up that also features DonorsChoose.org, Patch and Zagat. As the most checked in retailer on Foursquare with 2.25 million check-ins, Starbucks brings Foursquare to the digital network and will offer web-based check-ins in every store. You can see each store’s mayor along with other Foursquare users who have recently checked in.
