The company describes the player as a next generation delivery and sales platform for adult video.
Flamingo Media CEO and founder Ben Riordan told XBIZ that the Flamingo Player was launched to fill the gaps of other players by enabling syncing, organizing and sharing of content via multiple computer and mobile platforms.
“There is a term floating around the adult industry recently, and that term is ‘iTunes for porn,’” Riordan said. “We've seen bits and pieces of what this might imply but we haven't seen anyone get the full picture yet. It isn't about just selling scenes a la carte, or allowing people to purchase their content to own.”
The Flamingo Players allows users to watch and manage their adult video collection with scenes that can be streamed or downloaded through the web-based player. The content can also be synced directly to an iPhone or other mobile device.
Riordan said the purpose of the player is to allow consumers access to their content wherever it is needed.
“The lines between phone, netbook, or computer continue to become less and less defined,” he added. “The computer was also once a central hub for devices such as phones and PDAs with one way information transfer from the computer to the devices. This is no longer the case as the Internet becomes further and further decentralized to include mobile sites and formats.
“A strong and growing infrastructure allowing users to watch, organize, and purchase their adult video from whichever device they are using is one of the main foundations of the Flamingo Player.”
Scenes are sold starting at $1.99 and users can store and manage their own content from other sites or sources. The Flamingo Player also includes tubes — what it dubs “radio stations of porn.”
The project is designed to create an all-inclusive open marketplace where all adult content can be watched and sold by individuals and studios alike.
“What we are creating is a platform that allows not just the major studios to sell their content, but also amateurs and other aspiring content producers,” Riordan said. “By allowing anyone who produces content to sell and market their product through the Flamingo platform, we hope to encourage innovation in what kind of content is produced.”
Ten percent of the company’s profits are donated to DKT International, a nonprofit family planning organization and AIDS prevention group.
“We are extremely impressed with the charitable entrepreneurial model of DKT and strongly believe in their mission of alleviating suffering through family planning,” Riordan said. “DKT International not only offers people the choices they need, but it also improves lives by providing real incomes and opportunities for the people involved.”
Riordan and co-founder Glade began their careers in the adult industry working for PHE Inc. Riordan said their past experience with the charitable company and its founder Phil Harvey influenced his company’s efforts.
“Phil Harvey has been a leader in the industry and he has used that success to help fund DKT International,” Riordan said. “If consumers have a choice, we hope they would choose a company that also helps make the world a better place to live. We hope to encourage other companies in the industry to follow Phil Harvey's example.”
