TCN Media, the sales and marketing solutions division of TargetCast Networks, will launch its first mobile application for away-from-home television viewers in America’s casual and fast casual restaurants.

The mobile application will be available for the iPhone in Q-4 and will essentially function as the mobile gateway for all information and entertainment provided by the company through its network of locations in national chains.  These include Applebee’s, Friday’s, Chili’s, Outback, Einstein/Noah’s Bagels, Tully’s Coffee, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Robek’s, Juice It Up! , and Seattle’s Best Coffee in Border’s Bookstore locations.

“TCN’s mobile application will allow the user to access branded incentives and information provided by our affiliate and advertising partners with one seamless application but with a skin unique to each chain’s brand“ said Jerry Hall, TCN’s President/CEO.  “The goal is for our viewers who visit the restaurant to associate the application with a fun, easy way to interact with our content and the chain’s experience equally.   For example, a TCN viewer will see the app promoted on our screen in an Applebee’s, she then downloads the free application to her iPhone and gets the Applebee’s icon on the phone to access food and beverage incentives, enter contests, play trivia, etc. However, if she leaves that location and goes into another branded location—perhaps an Einstein’s — now the iPhone app recognizes the customer as a member of the TCN network but an Einstein’s branded icon delivers the special offers specific to that chain.”

“Furthermore, we are in discussions with multiple content suppliers to create custom entertainment segments that can be downloaded by our viewers in these locations.  As an example, we might create a webisode based on the regular patrons of one of our coffee shop chains located in West LA, or perhaps a Screen Film Festival and contest showcasing LA’s best new talent with the voting by our patrons taking place using our smart phone applications,” he continued.

TCN has partnered with XD Theory based in Santa Monica to develop and deliver the app and to assist with branding the program for the venues and for a limited number of advertisers this year.