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McDonald’s Launches Its Own TV Channel

Veronica Werhane |
October 17, 2011 | 5:45 p.m. PDT

Food Editor

McDonald's launches "The McDonald's Channel." (Creative Commons)
McDonald's launches "The McDonald's Channel." (Creative Commons)
Just a few months ago, McDonald’s initiated a franchise-wide makeover to revamp its restaurants with classy décor and nicer seating to create a more upscale atmosphere for its customers.  Now, McDonald’s is making even more efforts to improve the dining experience of its customers, as the worldwide fast food empire introduces its own television network: The McDonald’s Channel.

While customers enjoy their Big Macs, they can watch McDonald’s programming on one of the two high-definition 42- to 46-inch TV screens that will be installed in each restaurant, the LA Times reports.  The McDonald’s channel will feature original content created exclusively for its dine-in customers. The programming will be tailored specifically to the surrounding community of each restaurant, including local news and previews for upcoming films, TV shows, and music albums.  

Big name contributors are also on board to create content for Mickey-D’s, including BBC America, KABC-TV Eyewitness News, and reality TV producer Mark Burnett  (“Survivor,” “The Apprentice”).

The McDonald’s channel will run a one-hour program cycle consisting of 20 to 22 minute segments, such as "The McDonald's Achievers," showcasing local high school and college athletes, and "Mighty Moms," highlighting moms who balance their careers in sports like coaches or trainers and their home job as a mom. "McDonald's Channel Music News" is another segment, featuring musical acts, tours and new releases, along with "Vimby," Burnett’s creation featuring lifestyle and culture news of fashion, art, music, and night life.

Not surprisingly, McDonald’s television will also play eight to 10 minutes of advertisement during the program cycles.

Fronted by the LA-based ChannelPort Communications, LLC, the McDonald’s channel has already popped up in restaurants across Central and Southern California and is expected to reach over 800 restaurants in the area within the next few months.

ChannelPort anticipates the McDonald’s channel will reach 18 to 20 million people each month, which would make the hamburger oasis the provider of one of the largest daytime audiences in the region of LA, San Diego, and Las Vegas. If the fast-food chain’s television network is popular enough, the company may even consider expanding nationwide through the Web and mobile devices, entering the digital television competition with companies like Hulu and Netflix.

With more than 33,000 restaurants in 119 countries all over the globe, McDonald’s made itself a symbol of globalization and the poster child of America, creating the demand to get food as quickly, conveniently, and efficiently as possible.  Now, the company that set the standard of fast food is taking an ironic step back, inviting customers to skip the drive-thru and sit down, enjoy their meal, and watch some McDonald’s TV.

 

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