Optus is now offering 30 days’ free access to the National Geographic App on mobile services

Optus and National Geographic are inviting customers with any active Australian mobile service to become world explorers by offering 30 days’ free access to the hugely popular National Geographic App.

In July, Optus launched the world-first National Geographic App exclusively to eligible Optus post-paid mobile customers. Users have enjoyed over 700,000 sessions in the app, viewing over 68,000 hours of video content across more than 4 million screen views*. Due to its popularity, Optus is now extending the app’s availability to all Australians to share 130 years of stories from adventurers, explorers as well as new long and short form content.

Optus Managing Director of Marketing and Product, Ben White, said “We are continuing to evolve from a traditional phone company to a mobile-led entertainment business and what better way to demonstrate that than by providing a taste of our world-class products.

“Lots of people have told us over the past few months they would like to access the app and we are excited to now share it on a trial basis for any customer, on any network, as long as they have an active mobile service.

“The App has been very popular with Optus customers, with more than 4 million screen views since its launch. So far Australians are engaging across a broad range of content, personalised for them and refreshed every day across a wide range of topics, including animals, history and science.

“We know Australians want to access music and entertainment on mobile devices at a time that suits them. That’s why we’ve improved accessibility and made the app available on tablets as well as mobile phones, which is especially useful for keeping families entertained while on-the-go,” Mr White said.

Jacqui Feeney, Managing Director of Fox Networks Group ANZ, said “National Geographic is currently leading the global conversation about the things that matter. We’re focused on educating and entertaining in equal measure – taking the National Geographic brand from reverence to relevance in a digital mobile world. Our collaboration with Optus is all about leading the way to the future of 360 degree storytelling.

“App users can get closer to our explorers, photographers, filmmakers, scientists and conservationists. The App is as limitless as your imagination, with fresh content uploaded daily; it’s a true expression of what National Geographic stands for: driving exploration and going further.

“We’re delighted with the high level of engagement Australians have had with the App since its July launch, and now with the expansion to tablet format along with the free trial access, we look forward to more Australians being able to come on National Geographic’s next adventure, and indulge their curiosities every day.

“Australians may not know that 27 per cent of our profits support the National Geographic Society, that funds research, science, conservation, and exploration, which in turn helps create content inspiration. I am personally committed to connect more Australians with this mission in the coming year,” Ms Feeney said.

To celebrate the 130 year anniversary of National Geographic, the app features more than 75 “greatest hits” print-replica magazines such as August 1963’s “Jane and her Chimps”, the first cover story about Dr Jane Goodall’s research and life among wild chimpanzees. The app also includes recent TV blockbusters including Morgan Freeman’s The Story of Us and dramas such as The Long Road Home starring Michael Kelly and Kate Bosworth, which sees National Geographic moving into producing documentary style dramas.

Other highly anticipated upcoming content includes the critically lauded Jane from director Brett Morgen, Darren Aronofsky’s One Strange Rock narrated by Will Smith, Genius 2 starring Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso, complemented by local productions such as Meanwhile In Australia with Nick Cummins.

Optus mobile customers can stream content on the National Geographic App data free. The app is also available to Optus broadband customers with Fetch TV.

The National Geographic App content is updated daily and houses content from the past 130 years, giving customers access to:

  • Over 7,000 long and short form videos, including over 1,500 TV show episodes;
  • Over 28,000 photos and galleries by some of National Geographic’s leading photographers;
  • National Geographic magazine editions starting from January 2009, plus the tablet version of the app contains a selection of 75 of National Geographic’s best classic issues from the archive;
  • Over 130 NG10 short form exclusive videos for people that love their documentaries on the go;
  • Local and international articles published online from January 2014; and,
  • Dynamic feeds from National Geographic’s world-leading social accounts including Instagram.

Accessing the app
The National Geographic App is available for customers who are 18+yrs, or 15-17yrs with parental permission. For eligible Optus mobile, mobile broadband and active Fetch with Optus customers, on selected iOS and Android devices. The National Geographic App is available as a 30-day free trial and requires an active Australian mobile number. Activation may take up to four hours. Visit www.optus.com.au/natgeo for more info. At the end of the trial, users can continue to access the app for free when they sign up to any Optus mobile or mobile broadband plan. Non-Optus customers can continue using the app on a subscription basis**.

*Source: Localytics 2017 App Benchmarks
** National Geographic App subscription is $14.99 per month.

For more details, visit optus.com.au/natgeo or www.nationalgeographic.com.au/app/
App Images can be downloaded here.

App Demo Link: http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/videos/national-geographic/try-the-new-national-geographic-app-now-5446.aspx
Embed link: <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/embed/?id=544″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
Social tags: @natgeoau #nationalgeographicapp #nationalgeographic #natgeo

Media contacts:
Candice Lester/Alyssa Sharpe
Optus Corporate Affairs
(02) 8082 7850
media@optus.com.au

Kasha Tabaka
National Geographic – Publicity
0409 391163
kasha.tabaka@fox.com