Thursday, March 19, 2009
Verizon, AT&T add FM.
Two new mobile phone models will include FM capabilities. Verizon Wireless' Samsung Omnia and AT&T's LG Incite become the latest to add a broadcast radio function. An NAB-Fastroad study finds more than 13 million in-use phones include FM radio. Radio lives on. Now to help clients connect with users. Clients can use mobile phones to aim coupons at select demographics. Consumers bring in their pohones and show the coupons to the client and receive instant benefits. More revenue for radio.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Broadcast Networks Must Cement Their Online Video Business Models
Will Richmond at MediaPost 7 hours ago...
According to all the research, consumer demand for online delivery of broadcast network TV programs is soaring. But if this demand is now well-proven, what's less clear is how the broadcast TV networks will profitably evolve in a world where online video distribution eventually becomes the norm.
This question is becoming increasingly urgent because a critical bridge between broadband-delivered video and consumers' TVs is in the process of being built -- assuring that the long-held dream of "convergence" will be fully realized in the near future.
Broadcast networks have been among the early leaders in capitalizing on online distribution. While paid downloading of specific episodes has gained traction, viewing them as free, ad-supported streams -- whether from the networks' own sites or those of aggregators' -- has recently gained the most popularity. Consumers love the convenience of online on-demand viewing, and especially the limited quantity of ads that accompany these programs.
Broadcast networks have purposely limited the number of ad avails in these streams as they've focused on spurring online consumption with minimal friction. Nothing would turn off a DVR user accustomed to ad-skipping faster than having a big load of ads forced into their online viewing experience. But the downside of networks' lean diet of online ads is that, network programs viewed online generate no more than 20-30% of the revenues per viewer as does a traditional-television delivered view. This is at the root of the prevailing concern about "substituting analog (on-air) ad dollars for digital (online) pennies."
Still, because online viewing has rightly been perceived to date as expanding the overall viewership of network programs, industry executives have not been too upset about this issue. The problem is that as consumers' TVs are hooked to broadband, online viewership that can be done on TVs will inevitably cannibalize the amount of time previously spent watching programming from its traditional-television source. In short, absent a course correction by networks, when broadband-to-the-TV gains scales, their traditional ad model will be diminished.
Therefore, it is paramount that broadcast networks cement an online video ad model that can stand on its own legs, ready to profitably assume the P&L mantle from linear/on-air delivery in the coming years. And note, success will not mean loading up online streams with similar quantities of ad avails as in traditional delivery. Rather, the new model must emphasize a reasonable number of well-targeted and actionable ads that major brand advertisers will be willing to pay a premium for because of their superior performance metrics. Whether it's awareness, engagement, sales generated or some other success metric, networks need to prove that their online video ads can deliver superior value.
Beyond advertising, broadcast networks must experiment with paid models that go beyond simple per-episode downloads or rentals commonly available at iTunes, Amazon or others. For example, while DVD versions of networks episodes have been available through Netflix for years, the company's recent move to streaming presents a novel opportunity for broadcast networks to have their programs be immediately available in Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming feature. CBS has already done this with a limited number of its programs. In fact, having made considerable progress in building a network of Watch Instantly-capable devices (e.g. Roku, TiVo, Xbox, etc.), Netflix now needs to scale up its library of streaming titles. Incorporating popular broadcast programs would nicely address this need.
Broadband delivery and online viewership are presenting tremendous opportunities and challenges to broadcast networks. Having established bona fide consumer demand for online viewing of their programs, broadcast networks' most urgent task now is to firm up their online business models.
According to all the research, consumer demand for online delivery of broadcast network TV programs is soaring. But if this demand is now well-proven, what's less clear is how the broadcast TV networks will profitably evolve in a world where online video distribution eventually becomes the norm.
This question is becoming increasingly urgent because a critical bridge between broadband-delivered video and consumers' TVs is in the process of being built -- assuring that the long-held dream of "convergence" will be fully realized in the near future.
Broadcast networks have been among the early leaders in capitalizing on online distribution. While paid downloading of specific episodes has gained traction, viewing them as free, ad-supported streams -- whether from the networks' own sites or those of aggregators' -- has recently gained the most popularity. Consumers love the convenience of online on-demand viewing, and especially the limited quantity of ads that accompany these programs.
Broadcast networks have purposely limited the number of ad avails in these streams as they've focused on spurring online consumption with minimal friction. Nothing would turn off a DVR user accustomed to ad-skipping faster than having a big load of ads forced into their online viewing experience. But the downside of networks' lean diet of online ads is that, network programs viewed online generate no more than 20-30% of the revenues per viewer as does a traditional-television delivered view. This is at the root of the prevailing concern about "substituting analog (on-air) ad dollars for digital (online) pennies."
Still, because online viewing has rightly been perceived to date as expanding the overall viewership of network programs, industry executives have not been too upset about this issue. The problem is that as consumers' TVs are hooked to broadband, online viewership that can be done on TVs will inevitably cannibalize the amount of time previously spent watching programming from its traditional-television source. In short, absent a course correction by networks, when broadband-to-the-TV gains scales, their traditional ad model will be diminished.
Therefore, it is paramount that broadcast networks cement an online video ad model that can stand on its own legs, ready to profitably assume the P&L mantle from linear/on-air delivery in the coming years. And note, success will not mean loading up online streams with similar quantities of ad avails as in traditional delivery. Rather, the new model must emphasize a reasonable number of well-targeted and actionable ads that major brand advertisers will be willing to pay a premium for because of their superior performance metrics. Whether it's awareness, engagement, sales generated or some other success metric, networks need to prove that their online video ads can deliver superior value.
Beyond advertising, broadcast networks must experiment with paid models that go beyond simple per-episode downloads or rentals commonly available at iTunes, Amazon or others. For example, while DVD versions of networks episodes have been available through Netflix for years, the company's recent move to streaming presents a novel opportunity for broadcast networks to have their programs be immediately available in Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming feature. CBS has already done this with a limited number of its programs. In fact, having made considerable progress in building a network of Watch Instantly-capable devices (e.g. Roku, TiVo, Xbox, etc.), Netflix now needs to scale up its library of streaming titles. Incorporating popular broadcast programs would nicely address this need.
Broadband delivery and online viewership are presenting tremendous opportunities and challenges to broadcast networks. Having established bona fide consumer demand for online viewing of their programs, broadcast networks' most urgent task now is to firm up their online business models.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Power of TV and Video
The Nielsen Company recently reported that viewing of video on television, Internet and mobile devices has reached new heights. In its fourth quarter "Three Screen Report", Nielsen says that the average American watches more than 151 hours of TV per month, an all-time high. Americans who watch video over the Internet consume another 3 hours of online video per month and those who use mobile video watch nearly 4 hours per month on mobile phones and other devices.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Why Wait For The Government? Create Your Own Small Business Economic Stimulus
By Denise OBerry
It’s pretty obvious that those of you who are the backbone of the US economy aren’t going to get an economic stimulus package anytime soon. As a matter of fact, you may even have a hard time getting a business loan if you need one.
So that means it’s high time you created your own small business stimulus plan – one that will keep your bottom line healthy and create the right amount of cash flow to help your business thrive. But the question is where do you start?
Your best place to start is before you make a sale to the customer. Let’s take a look at some things you should consider.
Are you targeting the right market?
Way too many small business owners think their customer is anyone. But in reality, if anyone is your customer no one is your customer. Make sure you have your target customer defined in very clear terms. Are they male or female? Affluent? Middle income? Spontaneous or analytical
read more
It’s pretty obvious that those of you who are the backbone of the US economy aren’t going to get an economic stimulus package anytime soon. As a matter of fact, you may even have a hard time getting a business loan if you need one.
So that means it’s high time you created your own small business stimulus plan – one that will keep your bottom line healthy and create the right amount of cash flow to help your business thrive. But the question is where do you start?
Your best place to start is before you make a sale to the customer. Let’s take a look at some things you should consider.
Are you targeting the right market?
Way too many small business owners think their customer is anyone. But in reality, if anyone is your customer no one is your customer. Make sure you have your target customer defined in very clear terms. Are they male or female? Affluent? Middle income? Spontaneous or analytical
read more
Four out of Five Agree - Rewards of Running a Business Outweigh Negatives
Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends
It’s a good thing most of us don’t pay attention to the hyped-up “Great Depression” talk from some quarters. If we did, we’d have given up months ago in this uncertain economy.
Instead, the opposite seems to be happening. Small business owners are bouncing back — a little.
According to the most recent American Express OPEN Economic Pulse survey from January/February 2009, there are budding signs that small business optimism is growing. Things are looking brighter.
The survey looked at perceptions of the economy, cash flow, hiring, access to credit, government economic intervention including the proposed stimulus package, and the entrepreneurial mindset. The result? Fewer small business owners are worried about going out of business and more expect to grow their businesses regardless of the economic climate, than in October.
Some other findings show small signs of optimism, too, when compared with previous surveys:
Fewer businesses have been affected by the tightening of credit (50% in August 08, 63% in October 08 and 56% in January 09)
Fewer businesses are accepting lower profit margins (56% in August 08, 58% in October 08 and 46% in January 09)
Fewer business owners are stressed out over the state of the economy (55% in February 08, 71% in August 08 and 66% in January 09)
Still, all is not rose petals and sugar cubes. The survey found we are getting paid slower — and we’re more risk averse than we were a year ago.
Yes, everyone knows it’s a tough economy — even if we weren’t being reminded of it every 30 seconds in the media.
But as one good friend of mine (himself a long-term business owner) asked last week at lunch: “When has it ever been easy to run your own business? It’s not about ‘easy’.” He’s right, it’s not about “easy” for small businesses. There’s always one challenge or another to deal with. Different day, different set of problems to overcome.
I think that’s what my small business peers were saying in what I consider to be the best part of the survey — where 80% of small business owners say they’d do it all over again, despite the challenges in the economy.
Here’s to keeping our small businesses moving in a positive direction.
It’s a good thing most of us don’t pay attention to the hyped-up “Great Depression” talk from some quarters. If we did, we’d have given up months ago in this uncertain economy.
Instead, the opposite seems to be happening. Small business owners are bouncing back — a little.
According to the most recent American Express OPEN Economic Pulse survey from January/February 2009, there are budding signs that small business optimism is growing. Things are looking brighter.
The survey looked at perceptions of the economy, cash flow, hiring, access to credit, government economic intervention including the proposed stimulus package, and the entrepreneurial mindset. The result? Fewer small business owners are worried about going out of business and more expect to grow their businesses regardless of the economic climate, than in October.
Some other findings show small signs of optimism, too, when compared with previous surveys:
Fewer businesses have been affected by the tightening of credit (50% in August 08, 63% in October 08 and 56% in January 09)
Fewer businesses are accepting lower profit margins (56% in August 08, 58% in October 08 and 46% in January 09)
Fewer business owners are stressed out over the state of the economy (55% in February 08, 71% in August 08 and 66% in January 09)
Still, all is not rose petals and sugar cubes. The survey found we are getting paid slower — and we’re more risk averse than we were a year ago.
Yes, everyone knows it’s a tough economy — even if we weren’t being reminded of it every 30 seconds in the media.
But as one good friend of mine (himself a long-term business owner) asked last week at lunch: “When has it ever been easy to run your own business? It’s not about ‘easy’.” He’s right, it’s not about “easy” for small businesses. There’s always one challenge or another to deal with. Different day, different set of problems to overcome.
I think that’s what my small business peers were saying in what I consider to be the best part of the survey — where 80% of small business owners say they’d do it all over again, despite the challenges in the economy.
Here’s to keeping our small businesses moving in a positive direction.
Downturn hits shopping malls hard
In a difficult economic climate, malls' efforts to draw in shoppers, and profitable stores, are becoming even more important. Some shopping malls are getting face-lifts and changing hours, while others are taking on stores they might not have before, with discounted rents. The Wall Street Journal...Also..individual retailers need to step out and and develop their own personalities so shoppers will make them a destination. When was the last time you prospected in a strip mall?
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