Zoom Acquires Wellness Health Education Network
Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
Zoom Media & Marketing, a leading provider of targeted and digital out-of-home media and promotional programs for brand advertisers in the United States and Europe, has acquired the Wellness Health Education Network (WHEN), a 257 venue digital signage network located in high-end fitness centers across the US..
The purchase gives Zoom entrance into the health education content sector. WHEN broadcasts engaging health and wellness information, lifestyle tips, facility-specific announcements, and advertising messages to help fitness members proactively manage their health via digital displays located in common areas.
The acquisition expands Zoom’s network of fitness facilities to more than 1,350 digital venues across the U.S. in 123 designated market areas, and over 2,000 worldwide.
“WHEN has superb material and we plan to integrate the WHEN content platform into Zoom’s existing ClubCom network, the fitness industry’s leading digital entertainment and digital signage platform,” says Montreal-based Francois de Gaspé Beaubien, chairman and CEO, Zoom Media & Marketing. “We’ve had a thirst to increase our footprint in the digital fitness sector.This is a case were 1 + 1 = 10. We get a great file of editorial content that we can repurpose and use across both WHEN and Clubcom screens.”
“Health and wellness is the defining ethos of the health club environment,” says Dennis Roche, president of Zoom Media & Marketing, New York, “Venues and patrons alike find this information engaging and useful. It will be an outstanding complement to our existing programming content.”
Zoom has purchased WHEN’s 42” screens themselves, and will transition from using Enquii software to Clubcom’s own over the next few months.
“We’ll also be hiring staff – specificially a managing editor in Pittsburg,” says de Gaspe Beaubien.
The integration of the WHEN content provides an additional platform for advertisers and sponsors to leverage across Zoom’s digital fitness offerings.
“Health and wellness information is a big area of growth for advertisers,” says Dan Levi, Zoom’s senior vice-presdent of digital media & strategic partnerships. “WHEN provides Zoom’s advertisers with relevant editorial content targeting health conscious consumers during a heightened state of awareness.”
The purchase is expected to increase Zoom’s interest in additional opportunities for entry into the health and wellness sector. WHEN is the third significant business acquired by Zoom over the past 14 months. Last March, Zoom acquired Alloy’s 2,000 venue nightlife media business. In Sept./08, Zoom acquired ClubCom and its expansive global digital fitness platform.
“And we’re still expecting to make additional buys in the future,” says de Gaspé Beaubien.
Adding to its capital reserves, in March/09, Zoom raised $30 million from ABS Capital Partners. Overall, Zoom now operates digital media networks in over 2,750 domestic venues spanning the top 90 DMAs in the U.S. and static billboards in over 8,000 venues in North America. Zoom is the clear market leader in the fitness and nightlife media industries. It also operates media networks in over 500 family entertainment venues and an extensive sampling and promotional business.
“The digital tide continues to rise amidst the downturn of other traditional media platforms,” says de Gaspé Beaubien. “This is the ideal time to invest in targeted, relevant digital networks. We are extremely pleased to offer advertisers more diversified digital content as well as expand into additional great fitness venues.”
Follow DailyDOOH