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SOMERSET, New Jersey — Pillar Media has launched dedicated connected TV apps for its STAR-branded radio stations — Star 99.1, Star 93.3, Star 101.5 and The New FLO 107.1 — extending their reach to Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV platforms. All In Media, part of Xperi, developed the apps.
According to Pillar, the move responds to growing listener demand and changes in media consumption habits. Internal research, drawn from the company’s participation in Jacobs Media’s Techsurvey, showed that over 70% of Star listeners own a smart TV. “That created the urgency to finalize this project,” said Cari Kates, director of digital content at Pillar Media. “This world is full of struggles. We want to be a place of encouragement, hope and peace — wherever our audience is.”
The apps mirror the look and feel of Pillar’s existing mobile apps, also built by AIM, and provide access to live radio streams, promotional content and donation prompts. For example, users can access Star 99.1, its HD2 Gospel variant, and FLO Positive Hip-Hop from a single interface, with calls to action for audience support integrated into the experience.
Pillar said the addition of connected TV platforms marks a broader evolution in its strategy. “We learned that a high percentage of our audience was already using smart TVs to consume content, and some listeners were asking how to find us there. It made sense to meet them where they already are,” said Kates.
Part of a long-term strategy
While the initial rollout replicates the mobile experience, the organization is open to evolving its TV content offering based on audience feedback. “We do have a vision for expanding the content offerings for our TV apps, but that will be largely informed by audience needs and desires,” Kates said.
The new apps are part of Pillar’s long-term strategy to serve its audience across multiple platforms, and the organization confirmed it is evaluating similar connected TV solutions for other brands in its portfolio. The New FLO 107.1 — a positive hip-hop format — already has its dedicated TV app, and additional properties may follow.
AIM’s technical and strategic input played a key role in the rollout. “The TV apps they built provide a level of functionality that I have not seen in other radio apps for TV,” Kates said. “AIM is a great partner for our future-minded organizational leadership.”
Pillar Media said it will measure success based on a combination of listener engagement data and broader mission-driven outcomes. “Our mission means our key metric is encouraging people,” the spokesperson said. “That includes evaluating whether the multichannel execution of our content is helping people find hope — and whether they know where to go for it.”
Kates offers a clear takeaway for other broadcasters: “If you’ve had listeners asking how to access your station on a smart TV, it’s time to explore this space. They’re already looking for you.”
This story originally appeared in the July/August 2025 edition of RedTech Magazine.
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