The Multiplatform division of ABC TV has four reasons to celebrate following the 18th AIMIA Awards, which were held in Sydney this week.
ABC iview, the ABC’s popular online catch-up TV service, and the ABC 4 Kids Portal took the winner’s trophy in every category in which they were nominated:
Best Children's – ABC 4 Kids Portal
Best Entertainment – ABC iview
Best Crossplatform – ABC iview
Best Use of Video – ABC iview
The Australian Interactive Media Association (AIMIA) Awards, affectionately known as the ‘Amys’, celebrate the most outstanding work produced by the Australian digital industry of the past year, across a broad range of consumer, business, government and not-for-profit categories. In accepting the awards, ABC iview Manager Sally O’Donoghue reflected on the year’s highlights, and acknowledged the efforts of colleagues across the ABC, in addition to technology and platform partners: “With programs such as Angry Boys, The Slap, Paper Giants, Crownies, Q&A, Good Game and Play School, 2011 was a great year for ABC TV and lovers of quality drama, comedy and Children’s entertainment.”
“Thanks to the vision and dedication of many people across ABC TV, Innovation, Technology and TV Multiplatform, ABC iview is the most ubiquitous catch-up TV service in Australia.” Since its launch in July 2008, ABC iview’s has grown rapidly from around 250,000 visits in September 2008 to approximately 3.6 million monthly visits and 5.1 million program plays recorded in October 2011 with a monthly average of 44% increase in ABC iview visitors from 2010 to 2011.
The rise of internet-enabled TVs, connected devices including PS3, Xbox, blu-ray players and iPad has given audiences greater access to ABC iview streamed into their homes. Since its launch there has been over 862,000 downloads of the ABC iview app for iPad and an impressive growth in plays on this platform with Children’s content being a firm favourite.