Global communications platform Infobip has partnered with real-time audience engagement provider Telescope to deliver large-scale fan participation experiences using SMS and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The collaboration enables real-time audience voting and interactive campaigns for major entertainment events, including American Idol and the BAFTA Awards.

As live entertainment increasingly integrates digital participation, messaging platforms are emerging as a key technology for engaging audiences in real time.

To support this shift, Infobip has partnered with Telescope to deliver fan engagement campaigns that allow viewers to vote, participate in trivia, and interact with live broadcasts directly from their mobile devices.

The partnership has already powered audience engagement campaigns for several major entertainment events, including American Idol, the BRIT Awards, and the BAFTA Awards.

Messaging Platforms Power Real-Time Audience Participation

SMS and messaging apps such as WhatsApp have become central tools for real-time engagement during televised events.

Because these platforms are available on nearly every mobile phone worldwide, they offer reliable and scalable communication channels for large audiences.

For live competitions and awards shows, the ability to deliver and process messages instantly is critical. Viewer voting campaigns, for example, require technology that can handle massive volumes of responses within seconds.

Through the partnership, Telescope uses Infobip’s messaging infrastructure to support high-volume campaigns that allow audiences to participate regardless of their geographic location.

The Growing Role of Messaging in Marketing Strategies

Messaging platforms are increasingly becoming a core component of enterprise communication and marketing strategies.

According to insights from the Infobip Messaging Trends Report, many organizations now combine SMS with regionally dominant messaging apps—such as WhatsApp or iMessage—to create more effective omnichannel communication strategies.

These channels are valued for their:

• High engagement rates
• Near-instant message delivery
• Strong conversion potential
• Global reach across mobile devices

As brands look to improve direct customer communication, messaging platforms are increasingly being integrated with customer engagement platforms and marketing automation systems.

Turning Viewers Into Active Participants

For entertainment companies, the partnership between Infobip and Telescope highlights the growing demand for interactive viewing experiences.

Telescope specializes in transforming passive audiences into active participants by enabling real-time voting, trivia, and other interactive features for broadcast events.

These capabilities have been widely used across television competitions and awards shows where audience participation can influence outcomes.

With millions of viewers watching live broadcasts globally, the infrastructure required to process engagement at scale must handle significant traffic spikes during voting windows.

By integrating Infobip’s messaging platform, Telescope can support high-volume messaging campaigns designed to keep viewers engaged throughout live broadcasts.

Expanding the Future of Fan Engagement

The collaboration also reflects a broader shift toward interactive entertainment experiences, where audiences expect to participate rather than simply watch.

Industry analysts at Gartner have noted that messaging platforms are becoming an increasingly important channel for digital engagement strategies across industries including media, retail, travel, and financial services.

As new communication channels such as Rich Communication Services (RCS) continue to grow, companies are exploring ways to combine messaging technologies with AI, automation, and real-time analytics to deliver richer interactive experiences.

For broadcasters and entertainment companies, these technologies may help redefine how audiences interact with live events—turning viewers into active participants in the content they consume.

Top Insights

• Infobip partnered with Telescope to power real-time audience engagement campaigns using SMS and messaging platforms.

• The collaboration supports viewer voting and interactive experiences for events such as American Idol, the BRIT Awards, and the BAFTA Awards.

• Messaging channels like SMS and WhatsApp provide instant, reliable communication for time-sensitive engagement campaigns.

• Brands increasingly combine SMS with messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage as part of omnichannel communication strategies.

• Interactive engagement technologies are transforming live entertainment by enabling viewers to participate directly in broadcasts.

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