Bango PLC reports developments tied to subscription bundling, digital-service distribution and its Digital Vending Machine® platform. Company updates focus on partnerships with subscription providers, deployments with telcos and other resellers, subscription hubs, and the addition of services such as streaming, AI, and professional-network subscriptions to bundled offers.
Bango news also includes full-year results and operating commentary for its Payments and Subscriptions segments, recurring revenue metrics, and consumer research on subscription behavior. The company's releases commonly connect reseller channels such as telcos, banks and retailers with content and software subscription providers seeking broader distribution.
Bango (AIM: BGO) has launched the world's first all-in-one technology for Super Bundling, enabling businesses to build and manage subscription hubs through its enhanced Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) product. This technology addresses growing consumer demand, as research shows 35% of subscribers have lost track of subscription costs, 49% are frustrated by fragmented management, and 73% desire a single hub for all subscriptions.
The new DVM CX allows telcos, banks, and retailers to quickly launch branded subscription hubs with pre-built templates, connect with hundreds of subscription partners (including Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime), and analyze real-time performance metrics. Bango estimates this white-label solution will save resellers up to 18 months in development time.
Additional features in the DVM update include enhanced offer management, a migration engine for existing subscriptions, automated offer orchestration, smart top-ups, and partner discovery with over 100+ subscription services. CEO Paul Larbey explains this addresses the current market gridlock by streamlining the process of creating subscription bundles.
Bango (AIM: BGO) has partnered with Continente, Portugal's largest retailer, to enhance customer offers through its Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™). The collaboration enables Cartão Continente loyalty card holders to subscribe to Disney+ with exclusive benefits. Customers can subscribe to Disney+ Standard with Ads for €1.99 monthly for three months, followed by €5.99 monthly, receiving 30% cashback on their loyalty cards.
Continente operates over 350 stores across Portugal with more than 4 million families using their loyalty card, accepted at over 2,000 locations with rewards from 20+ partner brands. The cashback can be used online or in-store at Continente and associated brands. The initiative demonstrates how retailers can leverage the Bango DVM™ to offer subscription services and enhance customer engagement.
Bango has released a new report titled 'Super Bundling: Inside secrets' based on interviews with executives from leading subscription brands. The report reveals that telcos are considered the ideal partners for subscription bundling, offering extensive reach and payment convenience. Consumer demand for telco-led Super Bundling varies globally, with 66% in East Asia, 55% in Latin America, 50% in the Americas, and 46% in Europe wanting their mobile operators to offer these services.
The study, which included insights from three top-five SVOD platforms and other leading subscription services, highlights how telcos can benefit through reduced churn, increased customer loyalty, and enhanced service offerings.
Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, has partnered with Bango (AIM: BGO) to expand its international subscriber base through bundling partnerships. This collaboration enables Crunchyroll to offer its subscription service bundled with mobile and broadband plans, as well as other consumer services like bank accounts and retail clubs.
Bango, a leader in bundling technology, will manage the technical aspects of creating and managing subscription bundles for resellers. This partnership opens up opportunities for 'Super Bundling', allowing telcos to integrate Crunchyroll into their all-in-one subscription platforms and content hubs.
The agreement aims to help Crunchyroll grow beyond its current 14 million subscribers through new indirect channels. It offers consumers more cost-effective deals and less administrative hassle while providing telcos and other resellers the ability to offer Crunchyroll in attractive bundles.
Bango's survey of 5,000 subscribers across Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan reveals that 34% of East Asian subscribers now sign up to services exclusively via third-party bundles and offers, surpassing rates in the USA, Latin America, and Europe. Japan leads with nearly 40% of subscribers going indirect. The East Asian subscription economy is thriving, with subscribers managing an average of 3.3 subscriptions and spending $29 monthly.
Key findings include:
- 70% of East Asian subscribers prefer services with content in their native language
- 64% want a single app to manage all subscriptions
- 60% would spend more time using subscriptions if managed in one place
- 37% would pay a higher bill for a package of popular subscriptions
- 66% prefer their mobile operator to offer Super Bundling packages
The report highlights the potential for Super Bundling to drive engagement, increase service uptake, and boost overall satisfaction in the East Asian market.
Bango (AIM: BGO) announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024. Key financial highlights include:
- Total Revenue: $24.1M (+18.6% YoY)
- Transactional Revenue: $16.4M (+5.3% YoY)
- Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): $12.9M (+130.4% YoY)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $4.0M (up $4.2M YoY)
Operationally, Bango signed 4 new Digital Vending Machine® (DVM) customers in 1H24 and 3 more post-period. The company expanded its eDisti program to 20 content providers, including Microsoft and Disney. Bango also signed a global agreement with Uber to accelerate Uber One subscriptions through telco channels. The company remains confident in meeting market expectations for the full year and returning to a positive net cash position in FY25.
Bango (AIM:BGO) has announced a strategic partnership with Les Mills, a global fitness service provider, to expand the accessibility of its digital fitness subscriptions globally. LES MILLS+ is now available through Bango's Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™), allowing telcos and other resellers to offer this fitness service to their customers as a bundle, add-on, or part of a Super Bundling content hub.
The partnership taps into the growing demand for at-home workouts and digital fitness platforms. Telcos can now provide their customers access to Les Mills' world-class workouts, diversifying their content offerings. The DVM™ enables telcos to quickly and cost-effectively broaden their range of third-party services, while Les Mills expands its reach through new telco channels.
For content providers like Les Mills, this means extending their subscription service reach to consumers worldwide beyond their direct market channels. Consumers benefit by gaining access to the best deals on their favorite subscriptions.
Bango's new report, 'Super Bundling: Global trends', reveals key insights into the global subscription economy based on a survey of 15,000 subscribers across the USA, Europe, and Latin America. The study highlights two conflicting trends: 'Vampire Subscriptions' and 'Forever Subscriptions'.
Key findings include:
- 1 in 3 Americans pay for unused subscriptions
- 35% of Americans lose track of subscription spending
- 44% of Americans struggle to track subscription sign-ups
- 75% of Americans have at least one 'Forever Subscription'
The report also emphasizes the growing demand for all-in-one subscription hubs, with 54% of Americans, 46% of Europeans, and 68% of Latin Americans expressing interest in such platforms to better manage their subscriptions.
Bango (AIM: BGO) has announced an agreement with Disney to expand the reach of Disney+ through select consumer offers via its Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™). This collaboration will enable telecom operators and service providers in select markets to offer Disney+ bundled with mobile phone and broadband plans, potentially increasing Disney+'s 150 million+ worldwide subscriber base.
The Bango DVM™ will handle all technical aspects of creating and managing subscription offers, allowing consumer-facing companies to include Disney+ in promotional and 'a la carte' offers within subscription hubs. This move aims to streamline the process of offering and managing multiple subscriptions in one place, potentially driving growth for both Disney+ and participating service providers.
Bango (AIM: BGO) has announced a partnership with Nord Security to integrate their subscription products, NordPass and NordVPN, into Bango's Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™). This collaboration will enable telcos to easily bundle and offer Nord Security's top-tier security subscriptions to their customers, enhancing online safety and privacy.
The partnership aims to expand Nord Security's reach through telco channels, leveraging the DVM™'s vast distribution network of leading global telcos. This integration allows telcos to quickly access and incorporate Nord Security's services into innovative bundles and promotional campaigns, potentially attracting and retaining more customers.
For Nord Security, this partnership represents an opportunity to scale the distribution of their cybersecurity and privacy services efficiently. For telcos, it offers a way to enrich their customer offerings with minimal effort and cost.