Smartphone Vs. The Chick Flick: Males Munch Mobile Trailers

by , Oct 3, 2012, 9:29 AM
  • Comment
  • Recommend
Subscribe to Mobile Marketing Daily

Tags

Girl-Guy-CouchIf your marital relationship is anything like mine, then moviegoing is an ongoing negotiation. “You dragged us to that lousy something-or-other with Jennifer Aniston last week,” the typical conversation goes. “This week, Spiderman.” Somewhere between the credits and the parking lot walk, I usually hear, “You owe me for that one.” 
 
And smartphones may introduce an imbalance to that timeworn system. According to new research from the IAB’s Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence and mobile network InMobi, 40% of men surveyed use their mobile devices to watch movie trailers, compared to 27% of women. 
 
Overall there was less of split when it came to overall mobile lookups for film information. Seventy-one percent of males used devices to help pick a movie, vs. 69% of women. “This study clearly shows that mobile is a crucial pathway for movie studios to reach men, whether they are promoting the latest action flick or a serious drama,” says IAB’s Anna Bager, VP and general manager of the Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence. Interestingly, men are leaning on the social network for advice -- with 38% checking friends’ opinions of films, vs. 33% of women.
 
The IAB/InMobi survey also found that movie trailers are such compelling content for many mobile users that they will sit through a pre-roll ad to get to them. While less than a third of respondents (31%) said they had watched a trailer on their devices in the last six months, 83% said they had seen an ad that preceded it. More than half of that share (61%) watched the pre-trailer ad all the way through. So they watched an ad in order to watch an ad, points out InMobi VP of Global Marketing Shrikant Latkar.
 
Actually the stat I would really like to see is how many people artfully filter the choices they convey to their partner when using their phones for movie lookups. I cop to that one. As my wife still gets up to speed on the use of apps, the movie lookups remain my task. “Check what is playing,” she usually directs over dinner out. And as I scroll down the choices on Fandango or Flixster, I am sure I fail to mention that latest Justin Timberlake or Jennifer Aniston romantic non-comedy.
 
Sure, movie marketers want to aim for the target-rich male mobile audience with their marketing. But the longer strategic play is to engage women in the art of the mobile movie lookup. If we leave the movie driving to men, Tyler Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd and Anne Hathaway may be scrambling over dwindling numbers of romantic comedy roles. 
 
  • Comment
  • Recommend

Be the first to comment on "Smartphone Vs. The Chick Flick: Males Munch Mobile Trailers "

Leave a Comment

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now

Recent Mobile Marketing Daily Articles

» Mobile Marketing Daily Archives