An Austinmer start-up is launching a new Fishflicks app that will take Australian fishing to world.
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In the process Beyond Entertainment Group is promoting tourism and generating revenue to help produce more content to quench a global thirst for fishing adventure.
A small team in Austi headed by Mark Berg will release the first smart TV app for Fishflicks in early April and move into the international digital-video-on-demand market. In the process they are promoting tourism and supporting the growth of our recreational fishing industry.
Fishflicks has accessed thousands of hours of footage including old Rex Hunt episodes that are being converted to digital so they can be watched via any streaming device 24/7.
Mr Berg has been developing Fishflicks since last May. His marketing head Claudeen Martinez said the popularity of recreational fishing in Australia and growing interest in the giant US and South East Asian markets meant their was a potentially a massive audience. The app will first be released on Samsung SMART TVs followed by LG, Sony, Phillips, Toshiba and Panasonic.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates five million Australians engage in recreational fishing which also contributes an estimated $200 million in international tourism. The launch of the new app coincides with recreational fishing becoming a major focus of Tourism Australia.
After coming up with the idea Mr Berg, of Fishing Addiction and The Next Level, discussed it with the other fishing show presenters at the Sydney Boat Show. “Subscription video on demand worldwide is happening at a rapid rate and no-one had really thought to do this in Australia. And we have so much incredible content to call on.”
Mr Berg said the new service was giving fishing shows a longer shelf life as well as generating revenue for the people who make them by getting a percentage of the fee per view. “People pay a subscription to watch it on Fishflicks. It is not very much money. I think it is going to be about $1.50 a week. With a lot of the fishing shows today...the only funds they get is through sponsorship. Fishflicks opens up the door where they get paid directly from the public to watch their content through the subscription. It is enough to help them to continue what they are doing. People love watching it so it is a win for everyone. The potential audience is massive because fisherman are obsessed with their sport. It is the number one participation and recreational sport in Australia”.
Mr Berg said his team is providing a service for people to watch fishing whenever they want. “It is just like NetFlix but based on fishing. At the moment we have a mobile app. Soon all the major SMART TV brands around the world will have Fishflicks within their app stores. It means anywhere in the world people can download the app on their SMART TV and choose what fishing content they want to watch”.
“What we are also excited about is being able to view a lot of the older content that we all grew up with, like Rex Hunt and Alby Mangels. It is fantastic. We all feel we are ambassadors promoting this country via Fishflicks. The exciting thing for me is here we are in a little office in Austinmer and I am working with my heroes..and relaunching them to the world,” Mr Berg said.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
