Former iPlayer boss Anthony Rose launches social networking app

Former BBC iPlayer boss and the co-founder of Beamly, Anthony Rose, has launched 6Tribes, a new social networking app designed to connect people with shared interests.

Rose, who first unveiled his new venture in November under the working title of ‘UTD’, said that 6Tribes will provide users with a new way of discovering content and meeting people “with the same passions, causes and interests.”

Rose has co-founded the UK-based service with Beamly co-founder and former EMI executive, Ernesto Schmitt. Both Rose and Schmitt took a “step back” from Beamly after it was re-branded from Zeebox earlier in 2014.

“6Tribes analyses things like your Facebook likes, the music on your phone and the places you’ve been to, to find the perfect tribes for you,” said Rose.

“Once you’re a member of a tribe, you can connect with people who get what you’re into, be it fashion or travelling the world – people who understand you. You have a place where you belong.”

Instead of focusing on existing social connections, 6Tribes is designed to brings people together around a shared interest, event or lifestyle, and delivers feeds that fit those interests.

“Our research made it clear that people are looking to connect around lifestyles, ideas and topics, and an alternative to the increasing amount of irrelevant content filling their news feed in existing social networks. The next evolution of social networking will come from this desire,” said Rose.

6Tribes launches today in the UK for the iPhone and iPad. An Android version and other country launches are due to follow.