SOUTHBANK CENTRE LAUNCHES THE UK’S FIRST LIVE BEACON PARTNERSHIP

25 November 2015 - Press release

Southbank Centre has entered a new partnership with the innovative tech company Live Beacon to install iBeacon technology across its 21 acre site. Via a free app for smartphones and tablets, the technology  provides location-specific information to audience members, such as special offers in shops, restaurants and concert tickets, plus bespoke content linked to Southbank Centre’s festival programme, artistic events and installations. Through the partnership the arts venue becomes the first UK organisation to use Live Beacons as a means of enhancing the visitor experience. 

The iBeacons (typically referred to as ‘beacons’) are Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices which transmit their identity to nearby portable electronic devices. The technology then allows smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions when in closer proximity to a beacon. This enables content to be delivered in a location sensitive way.

Southbank Centre will use the technology to help enhance the on-site experience of visitors by delivering bespoke content to iOS and Android devices via the free Live Beacon app, available to download here. 

The first stage sees beacons placed in and around the Royal Festival Hall as part of Being A Man festival (27-29 November) and in time, over 100 individual beacons will be in place to help ensure that audiences across the site can benefit from this pioneering new digital partnership.

With over 6 million ticket buyers and 31 million visitors to the site each year, Southbank Centre is the UK’s third most popular visitor attraction according to the latest figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. The use of Live Beacons is part of a wider programme of digital innovation to help visitors get the most from their visit to Europe’s largest arts centre.

Chris Denton, Director of Marketing and Communications, Southbank Centre said:

“We are delighted to be working with Live Beacon to deliver a new way for our many visitors to engage with the vibrant and diverse programme of events at Southbank Centre. We will use the technology not only to help deliver basic information but also as an extension of ways to interact with events happening across the site.”

Gordon Robson, CEO of Live Beacon said:
“It is fantastic to be launching Live Beacon with Southbank Centre. Our simple approach to beacons is leading the way in this emerging technology. Southbank Centre visitors need only download the free Live Beacon app for exciting content, useful information and exclusive offers to appear ‘like magic’ on their smartphones and tablets."