Canela Media has introduced Diego, an AI-generated virtual host designed to boost engagement on Club Canela, the company’s rewards program integrated into its streaming service Canela.TV.
The launch builds on Club Canela’s momentum since its debut in April, when the platform began offering users points for watching, sharing and interacting with content. Those points can be redeemed for exclusive programming, sweepstakes entries and digital gift cards. Canela Media said the program has helped drive 17 million incremental minutes watched and a 523 percent increase in registered profiles. Users have collectively earned more than 20 million points.
“Following the successful launch of Club Canela, the Canela Media team wanted to add more personalization and gamification for our audience, elevating the Club Canela offering with yet another first-to-market breakthrough with the creation of Diego, its AI-generated virtual host,” said Oswald Méndez, CMO of Canela Media. “Diego brings innovation to another level leveraging AI as a driver to further gamify the Club Canela experience with a more customized approach, interaction and more opportunities for brand partners to engage with our audience.”
Diego will present exclusive content, challenges and trivia within Club Canela. Users can expect personalized greetings, interactive experiences and themed rewards. Canela Media said Diego was designed with a friendly, approachable personality aimed at resonating with U.S. Hispanic audiences, a core segment of Canela.TV’s user base.
“Canela.TV’s audience has proven to enjoy a gamified experience within our streaming ecosystem through Club Canela and we aim to continue to enhance connections with viewers and increase engagement utilizing this first-to-market AI-powered innovation with the launch of Diego,” Méndez added.
For advertisers, Diego introduces opportunities for brand integrations. The virtual host will be able to deliver promotions tied to challenges and reward redemptions as well as customized activations, expanding how brands can interact with viewers through Canela’s streaming platform.
