A Side Order of McDonald’s Channel

Along with your Big Mac and fries, McDonald’s is going to serve you up a side order of television (whether you want it or not).

The Los Angeles Times reports that “In one of the most unusual twists in niche programming, the global fast-food chain is launching the McDonald’s Channel, a digital network of exclusive original content targeted at dine-in customers. The programming will be customized to specific communities around the individual restaurants, and will include local news and entertainment features, such as spotlights on upcoming films, albums and TV shows.

McDonald’s move is part of a broader digital-age strategy by corporate America to create its own platforms to speak directly to customers in an environment uncluttered by other media. Just as individuals have flocked to social media to tell their own stories, McDonald’s is the latest in a growing number of image-conscious corporations and institutions that will reach out to consumers by acting as their own studio and network.”

Featuring one hour loops of local news, human interest stories, entertainment profiles, movie trailers, TV promos, and advertisements, the McDonald’s Channel will feature a little bit of everything from the multimedia menu served up in small bites. Think of it as fast content to consumer with your fast food.

The venture is first being rolled out in Southern and Central California before the rest of the country gets a taste of McTV. Just in CA alone, they are expecting to reach up to 20 million viewers per month with the McDonald’s Channel so the potential market reach for this is staggering once it goes national and international.  Looking at it by the numbers alone, they just might end up being one of the most watched channels on a daily basis. This is a brilliant move on McDonald’s part as it not only serves to add value to the dine-in experience, it provides them a platform to speak to their customers and also opens up a new revenue stream with McDonald’s actually pulling in ad dollars from other companies. Sounds like a win-win-win for them.