A group of local television stations is forming a joint venture for what it calls a “national mobile content service.” The joint venture includes the NBC and Fox stations. But it will require new computer chips in phones and new programming deals with distributors. Through a separate coalition, TV providers have already coalesced around technical standards for mobile transmissions, so groups like the one announced Tuesday will now push forward on the programming side.
Read more at the New York Times.
Wednesday, April 14
Monday, April 12
Poll Finds Pessimism Among Print and Broadcast Journalists
Most newspaper and broadcast news editors think American journalism is in decline, and about half believe that their employers will go out of business if they do not find new sources of revenue. That's according to a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism.
Among print editors, 18 percent said their papers were actively pursuing the idea of charging readers for access to their Web sites, while 58 percent said it was under consideration. In addition, 48 percent of the editors who participated said that without a significant new income stream, their organizations could not remain solvent for more than 10 years; 31 percent gave them five years or less.
Broadcast executives were slightly more hopeful than their print counterparts about their employers’ financial futures, but broadcasters took a significantly darker view of what is happening to the quality of journalism.
Among print editors, 18 percent said their papers were actively pursuing the idea of charging readers for access to their Web sites, while 58 percent said it was under consideration. In addition, 48 percent of the editors who participated said that without a significant new income stream, their organizations could not remain solvent for more than 10 years; 31 percent gave them five years or less.
Broadcast executives were slightly more hopeful than their print counterparts about their employers’ financial futures, but broadcasters took a significantly darker view of what is happening to the quality of journalism.
Read more at the New York Times.
iPad Rivals
Google is soon expected to begin selling its version of a slate computer, like Apple’s iPad, while Nokia — the world’s biggest cellphone maker — is planning to enter the digital book market through a slate-cum-e-reader as well. Microsoft, the maker of computer software, is flirting with the idea of selling its own version of a slate, joining traditional computer companies like Hewlett-Packard that have already committed to such products.
Commentators and consumers have also been talking about what the iPad lacks — for example, a camera and the ability to display much of the Web’s entertainment content, like videos, if presented in the Flash format. H.P.’s version of the iPad is expected to be released by midyear. Notably, it will have a camera, as well as ports for add-on devices, like a mouse. Also, it will, the company says in a promotional video, “run the complete Internet,” including videos and other entertainment.
At Nokia, meanwhile, a team of engineers, designers and publishers are working on designing an e-reader, with the hope of making the company dominant in the digital books and apps marketplace. He argued that Nokia had more reach through its broad international sales channels to distribute content and more experience dealing with local content in countries like India and China than, say, Apple or Google.
Read more at the New York Times
Commentators and consumers have also been talking about what the iPad lacks — for example, a camera and the ability to display much of the Web’s entertainment content, like videos, if presented in the Flash format. H.P.’s version of the iPad is expected to be released by midyear. Notably, it will have a camera, as well as ports for add-on devices, like a mouse. Also, it will, the company says in a promotional video, “run the complete Internet,” including videos and other entertainment.
At Nokia, meanwhile, a team of engineers, designers and publishers are working on designing an e-reader, with the hope of making the company dominant in the digital books and apps marketplace. He argued that Nokia had more reach through its broad international sales channels to distribute content and more experience dealing with local content in countries like India and China than, say, Apple or Google.
Read more at the New York Times
Mags: Ad Pages Fall 9.4%
Total magazine ad pages fell 9.4% from 38,395 in the first quarter of 2009 to 34,795 in the first quarter of 2010, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Official rate card revenue fell 3.4% from $4.21 billion to $4.05 billion over the same period.
Of the total 233 tracked by PIB in 2009-2010, almost two dozen have ceased publication by the first part of 2010.
On the bright side, big first-quarter gains were seen at People Style Watch (+134.4%), Scientific American (+33.4%), Entertainment Weekly (+26.7%), Real Simple (+24.8%), OK Weekly (+23.5%).
Read more at Media Post.
Of the total 233 tracked by PIB in 2009-2010, almost two dozen have ceased publication by the first part of 2010.
On the bright side, big first-quarter gains were seen at People Style Watch (+134.4%), Scientific American (+33.4%), Entertainment Weekly (+26.7%), Real Simple (+24.8%), OK Weekly (+23.5%).
Read more at Media Post.
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