Fairfax Media today announced the launch of the Brisbane Times iPad app, the latest innovation from Australian news tablet app publisher.
The new iPad app establishes the Brisbane Times as a multi-platform newsroom.
The Brisbane Times iPad app features live news 24/7 and a specially curated Editor’s Choice section, with the best stories of the day.
“Our new iPad app is a significant milestone for the Brisbane Times and one our readers will embrace. We are delighted to be pioneering new technology and delivering a dynamic news app to our readers,” Brisbane Times editor-in-chief Simon Holt said.
“This new app is further affirmation of Fairfax’s commitment to the Queensland market. Users of the app will be able to read columns by our popular local commentary team, including John Birmingham, Madonna King, Bill O’Chee, Jessica Rudd, Katherine Feeney and Peter Psaltis, among others.”
A special editorial feature on Queensland’s changing multicultural landscape will be available exclusively to app readers on launch day. The feature provides valuable insights into which nationalities are calling Brisbane home, where they are living, the positive impact they are having on communities and how they are adapting to their new home.
The app uses iOS native functionality and incorporates key design elements from the other highly successful Fairfax Media news iPad apps – The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Canberra Times -to provide readers with sleek and sophisticated access to the latest Queensland, national and international news and events as they happen.
Features and functions not available on BrisbaneTimes website, such as Sudoku, news alerts and section customisation will be rolled out to the iPad app later this year.
Fairfax Media Mobile Director Stefan Savva said: “In just four years, tablets have become an integral part of the news reading experience. Almost 2.8 million Australians are now accessing Fairfax Media content on a mobile or tablet device each month, which is up 7% in the last six months, according to EMMA.”
“Our aim as a publisher is to provide a great experience across a number of platforms, so we are excited to offer Brisbane Times readers another way to connect with news from their city.”
Advertising opportunities on the Brisbane Times iPad app include full page interstitials and large format in-article ads. Both ad units are high impact and allow for substantial creative flexibility, offering advertisers greater opportunity for interactivity and engagement with the premium Brisbane Times audience.
The Brisbane Times iPad app launch will be supported by a consumer campaign that will run across press, digital, radio, out-of-home and social media channels, commencing from 4 August 2014.