App based on legendary darts gameshow launches on iOS and Android

Bulldog Licensing, agent for iconic darts gameshow Bullseye, has announced the launch of a brand new Bullseye app on iOS and Android.

The app, developed by award-winning mobile development and consultancy group Island Wall Entertainment, went live on iOS/iTunes in mid- May and Android/Google Play a week later and has been an immediate hit, securing and sustaining a top five placing on both iPhone and iPad from the day of its launch and gaining a 3.7 star rating on Google Play.

The app version of the gameshow combines the fun of dart throwing and showing off your general knowledge over three rounds. As in the TV show, contestants throw darts at different boards to choose question categories, gain points or win prizes. The app also includes the voices and catchphrases of original presenters Jim Bowen and Tony Green as well the original music and game sounds. It is available in one or two-player versions.

For well over a decade Bullseye’s mixture of darts and general knowledge questions was a huge hit with UK audiences. The show featured not just amateur darts players battling it out for a selection of prizes, but some of the biggest names in professional darts throwing for charity. Bullseye ran over the entire ITV network from 1981 to 1995 and regularly pulled in 13 million viewers per episode, with a peak audience of 19.8 million on Boxing Day 1989. ITV has since featured the show in two high-rating one-off specials. Popular demand led to Bullseye reappearing as a series in 2006 on the Sky owned digital television channel Challenge where it is now broadcast regularly and has secured some of the game show channel’s highest ratings.

With the Bullseye licensing campaign, launched in 2013, Bulldog is looking to capitalise on the show’s huge retro appeal and enduring popularity. The licensing programme will target a number of categories including apparel, boardgames and gifting. The official Bullseye page of Facebook, which has over 60,000 fans, will be used to help promote product.
“Bringing this highly visual game to the App Store and Google Play was a licensing target from the start,” says Bulldog MD Rob Corney. “With its extensive experience and strong understanding of the app market, Island Wall has done a great job of capturing the fun and excitement of the show for fans of all ages.”