AI is becoming America’s favorite subscription, with 24% of AI subscribers spending over $100 per month on their AI toolsCAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Nov. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than three-quarters (77%) of AI subscribers say these services are now essential to their everyday life. That's according to a newly released research report from Bango (AIM:BGO), ‘The rise of the AI subscriber’ — the first major study to focus exclusively on paying AI subscribers — exploring the behaviors, spending pattern ...

Core Insights - Bango has partnered with DeepL to integrate DeepL's Language AI services into its Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™), enabling resellers to offer AI subscriptions to meet growing consumer demand for AI-powered services [1][2][6] Company Overview - Bango is a leader in subscription bundling, facilitating content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships and innovative monetization strategies [7] - The Digital Vending Machine® is a platform that supports the rapid growth of the subscription economy, allowing resellers to diversify their offerings and enhance customer acquisition [7] Industry Trends - There is an accelerating global demand for AI-driven solutions, with paid subscription services becoming mainstream in both business and consumer markets [2][6] - The Bango DVM allows resellers, such as telcos and banks, to easily scale their subscription services and create compelling bundles that attract and retain customers [4][6] DeepL's Position - DeepL's Language AI platform is utilized by over 200,000 businesses and millions of individuals across 228 markets, providing advanced translation and communication solutions [3] - The partnership with Bango enables DeepL to expand its reach and make its AI translation technology accessible to a larger user base globally [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 21% increase in room openings and signed 24% more deals in the quarter, with a global pipeline growing by 4% to 257,000 rooms [5][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $213 million, with fee-related and other revenues declining 3% year over year [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.46, up 1% on a comparable basis [17] - Adjusted free cash flow was $97 million in the third quarter and $265 million year to date, with a conversion rate from adjusted EBITDA of 48% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ancillary fee streams increased by 18%, contributing to the overall revenue despite a decline in other franchise fees [5][11] - The company introduced Dazzler Select by Wyndham, expanding its brand offerings in the economy lifestyle space [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined 5% in constant currency globally and domestically, with a notable decline in the select service segments in the U.S. [10] - Internationally, RevPAR declined 2%, primarily driven by an 8% decline in Asia-Pacific, particularly in China [10] - EMEA grew its net rooms by 8%, while Latin America and the Caribbean grew net rooms by 4% [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on higher-fee-par brands and expanding direct franchising in regions that previously relied on master licensees [6] - The introduction of Wyndham Rewards Insider aims to enhance customer engagement and loyalty, tapping into the growing subscription economy [12][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that despite a challenging macro environment, there are no structural concerns in the economy segment, with positive indicators such as improved cancellation rates [26][27] - The outlook for full-year constant currency global RevPAR has been adjusted to a decline of 3% to 2%, reflecting a reduction from previous expectations [20][21] Other Important Information - The company completed the refinancing of its revolving credit facility, increasing total capacity to $1 billion and reducing borrowing costs [19] - The marketing fund expenses are expected to exceed revenues by approximately $5 million, reflecting investments in initiatives to strengthen the franchise system [22][96] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about what's in your control and what you're doing regarding the RevPAR environment? - Management indicated that there are no structural concerns and highlighted positive booking lead times and improved cancellation rates [26][27] Question: How has government spending affected infrastructure-related travel demand? - Management remains optimistic about infrastructure spending as a multi-year tailwind, despite some projects being paused [35][36] Question: What are the early trends in RevPAR for Q4? - Early trends show RevPAR tracking about 100 basis points above September performance, with stabilization in booking pace [41] Question: Can you discuss net unit growth momentum for next year? - Management expressed confidence in net unit growth, with a strong pipeline and record room openings year to date [48][49] Question: What is the outlook for ancillary revenue growth? - Ancillary revenues are expected to continue growing, driven by several initiatives including credit card programs and technology enhancements [59][60] Question: How does the company view the impact of key money deals versus growth in China? - Key money deals are seen as accretive to RevPAR, and the company is experiencing strong growth in China without the use of key money [65][70] Question: Can you elaborate on the Wyndham Rewards Insider program? - The program is expected to enhance engagement and loyalty, with significant potential for long-term fee growth [87][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 21% increase in room openings and signed 24% more deals in the quarter, with a global pipeline growing by 4% to 257,000 rooms [5][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $213 million, with fee-related and other revenues declining 3% year over year [16][17] - Adjusted diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.46, up 1% on a comparable basis [17] - Adjusted free cash flow was $97 million in the third quarter, totaling $265 million year to date [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ancillary fee streams increased by 18%, contributing to the overall revenue despite a decline in fee-related revenues [5][11] - The company introduced new brands and expanded its offerings, including the Dazzler Select by Wyndham targeting the economy lifestyle space [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined 5% in constant currency globally and domestically, with a notable decline in the select service segments in the U.S. [10] - Internationally, RevPAR declined 2%, primarily driven by an 8% decline in Asia-Pacific, particularly in China [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on higher-fee-par brands and expanding direct franchising in regions that previously relied on master licensees [6][7] - The introduction of Wyndham Rewards Insider aims to enhance customer engagement and loyalty, tapping into the growing subscription economy [12][88] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that there are no structural concerns in the economy segment despite recent RevPAR trends, citing stable booking lead times and improved cancellation rates [26][27] - The outlook for full-year constant currency global RevPAR has been adjusted to a decline of 3% to 2%, reflecting a reduction from previous forecasts [20][21] Other Important Information - The company completed the refinancing of its revolving credit facility, increasing total capacity to $1 billion and extending maturity to 2030 [19] - The marketing fund expenses are expected to exceed revenues by approximately $5 million, reflecting a strategic investment in long-term initiatives [22][96] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the RevPAR environment and what actions are being taken? - Management indicated that there are no structural issues affecting the economy segment, with positive indicators such as improved cancellation rates and stable booking lead times [26][27] Question: How is the infrastructure spending impacting the business? - The company views the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending as a multi-year tailwind, with significant revenue potential for hotels in those markets [35][36] Question: What are the expectations for ancillary revenue growth? - Ancillary revenues are expected to continue growing, driven by initiatives such as the credit card program and new technology implementations [59][60] Question: Can you elaborate on the impact of the marketing fund overspend? - The overspend is viewed as an investment in long-term initiatives, with expectations to recover these funds in future periods [96][98]

Core Insights - Bango has formed a strategic partnership with MTN South Africa to enhance subscription bundling through the Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) [1][4] - The initiative aims to provide over 39 million customers in South Africa with easier access to various subscription services, addressing customer churn in the telecom industry [2][5] Company Overview - Bango is recognized as a leader in subscription bundling and has developed the Digital Vending Machine® to facilitate the monetization of digital content and services [6] - MTN South Africa, a subsidiary of MTN Group, is the largest mobile network operator in Africa, with a focus on delivering digital solutions [8] Strategic Goals - The partnership will allow MTN to quickly scale its offerings across multiple markets and adapt bundles to meet the diverse needs of its customer base [3][5] - The collaboration is expected to enhance customer loyalty, reduce churn, and drive revenue growth for MTN [5]

Group 1: Strategic Collaboration - Bango, Telkomsel, and Nuon Digital Indonesia announced a strategic collaboration to offer Microsoft PC Game Pass through IndiHome Add-On in Indonesia [1][3] - The partnership utilizes Bango's Digital Vending Machine® (DVM™) for fast and secure activation, along with promotions and discounts for customers [1][4] Group 2: Product Offering - Microsoft PC Game Pass provides unlimited access to hundreds of high-quality PC titles for a fixed monthly subscription fee of IDR 63,063 (excluding VAT) [2][5] - The service includes day-one releases from major studios and exclusive bonuses from Riot Games, enhancing the gaming experience for users [2][3] Group 3: Market Trends and Benefits - The collaboration addresses the growing trend of cross-platform gaming and subscription services, allowing gamers to enjoy premium experiences affordably [3] - By integrating PC Game Pass into IndiHome Add-On, Telkomsel aims to drive customer acquisition and retention while providing added value to Indonesian gamers [4][5] Group 4: Promotional Offers - A promotional offer for the first 500 users includes a free first month of PC Game Pass starting August 14, 2025 [6][8] - Subscribers will receive an activation code to start playing after completing the transaction [6]

Core Insights - A new study from Juniper Research identifies Recurly, Zuora, and Zoho as the leading subscription management platforms for 2025, evaluated against criteria such as operational size and billing service comprehensiveness [1][5]. Subscription Economy Overview - The 2025 Subscription Economy Competitor Leaderboard highlights key players in the subscription management space [2]. - The report addresses the growing issue of subscription fatigue among consumers, emphasizing the need for flexible subscription billing options [5]. Market Trends and Recommendations - Juniper Research recommends that leading subscription management platforms integrate AI into their technology stacks to enhance consumer behavior tracking and personalization [6][7]. - The integration of predictive AI is seen as essential for differentiation in a saturated market, with a focus on maximizing customer retention through innovative services [6][7]. Research Methodology - The research includes a comprehensive assessment of the subscription economy market, covering over 60 countries and containing more than 71,500 market statistics over a five-year period [8].

Core Insights - Bango PLC has formed a strategic partnership with KT, a leading telecommunications provider in South Korea, to deliver subscription services to KT's 13.5 million customers, marking Bango's first major DVM agreement in Korea [1][2] - The partnership aims to integrate a variety of third-party services, including AI and language subscriptions, into KT's subscription hub, addressing the growing consumer demand for advanced digital experiences [2][3] - KT is at the forefront of AI solution development in South Korea and is expanding its offerings to include innovative AI services that enhance productivity and creativity through Bango's Digital Vending Machine (DVM) [3][4] Company and Industry Developments - The Bango DVM simplifies subscription bundling, transforming a complex operational challenge into a scalable business model, allowing KT to quickly deploy new offers and gain insights for personalized service [4][5] - KT's collaboration with Bango is seen as a pivotal moment for its subscription platform, enabling it to evolve into a global subscription service hub and meet the changing needs of users [5] - Bango's technology is trusted by major content providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, positioning it as a key player in the rapidly growing subscription economy [6]