News

Starbucks Digital Network debuts new content providers

March 23, 2011

The Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo!, has introduced new content providers, including The Economist, ESPN Insider Rumor Central, Marvel Digital Comics and Mediabistro.

The additions, which were introduced at Starbucks’ annual meeting of shareholders, will bring global news, sports, comics and job tools to the network.

The Starbucks Digital Network, which was launched in October 2010, is powered by free WiFi, and is accessible via laptops, tablets and smartphones in nearly 6,800 company-operated Starbucks stores throughout the United States.

“Following the fall launch, we’ve continued to seek feedback from our customers so we can continue to shape and grow the Starbucks Digital Network in a way that is authentic to the Starbucks Experience, inspires conversation and invites new customers to experience our content offering when they visit their neighborhood Starbucks,” said Stephen Gillett, Starbucks chief information officer, executive vice president Digital Ventures. “Today we’re broadening the offering and will continue to develop the network’s channels with a spectrum of new content.”

News and Sports

As the new content providers join the network, the News Channel broadens to become the News & Sports Channel, offering the latest breaking developments from around the world. The Economistonline and ESPN Insider Rumor Central are opening up their premium online content to the Starbucks Digital Network, so customers have free access while in their local Starbucks store.

The Economistcovers world politics, business and finance, science and technology and culture. ESPN Insider offers access to “Rumor Central,” with tips, speculation and analysis on teams and athletes. It covers 28 college and professional sports and leagues around the world.

Entertainment

On the Entertainment Channel, Marvel Universe will begin appearing on the Starbucks Digital Network on April 23. With more than 8,000 characters, Marvel Comics provides free access to its library, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine and more.

Business and Careers

For customers looking to conduct a job search, Mediabistro brings new resources to the network. It joins the Business & Careers channel to provide complimentary access to its library of how-to career training videos. With topics ranging from how to “Create a Job Search Strategy” to “How to Make Your Resume Work Harder for You,” the instructional videos offer relevance for job seekers and entrepreneurs in all fields.

A full list of network content providers now include:

• News & Sports: Digits (WSJ technology blog), WSJ.com, The Economist, GOOD, New York Times Reader 2.0, USA TODAYeEdition, ESPN Insider Rumor Central and Yahoo! News.
• Entertainment: iTunes, Bookish Reading Club, Marvel Comics, New Word City, Nick Jr. Boost, SnagFilms, Starbucks Entertainment and Yahoo! entertainment offerings.
• Wellness: Rodale with Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Prevention, Organic Gardening, TrainingPeaks, Eat This, Not That! and Rodale Books.
• Business & Careers:LinkedIn, Mediabistro, Starbucks Careers and Yahoo! Finance.
• My Neighborhood:DonorsChoose.org, Flickr, Foursquare, Patch and Zagat.
• Starbucks: MyStarbucksIdea, Starbucks Coffee Blog, Starbucks Nutrition, Starbucks Shared Planet, Starbucks Card and My Starbucks Rewards.
• Landing page and other featured content: The Weather Channel, Foursquare check-in, Starbucks Card log-in, a social media dashboard highlighting Facebook, Twitter, My Starbucks Idea and YouTube, and the Yahoo! search bar.

Customers gain access to the Starbucks Digital Network when they connect to free WiFi at company-operated Starbucks in the U.S. The Starbucks Digital Network content can be accessed with devices on the AT&T network in store at starbucks.yahoo.com.