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“Is There an Ad Supported Internet Video Business?” There are only three business models: I pay, you pay or someone else pays. In the media distribution business this is well understood. Networks and stations are ad supported (someone else pays). Premium networks charge a monthly subscription fee (you pay), etc. And, in case you are Continue Reading →

According to Bloomberg News, recorded music sales in the U.S. fell 6.1 percent (to $4.9 billion) in the first half of 2006, led by a 14 percent drop in CD sales. Declines in demand for CDs, tapes and other traditional formats far exceeded the 86.6 percent jump (to $945 million) in digital sales that now Continue Reading →

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING NEWS item this week in the Wall Street Journal that quoted a sharply worded letter from Target President Gregg Steinhafel, who said that the chain had become aware that “some movie studios have made new-release movies available to download service providers at lower cost” than DVDs, allowing the downloaded movies to Continue Reading →

As you undoubtedly know, Google has purchased YouTube. This is very good news for Google shareholders, YouTube stakeholders and advertisers. However, it is not great news for every other short-form video distribution site on earth. The hyper-efficient integration of video serving and Internet advertiser sales is going to be very, very hard to compete with. Continue Reading →

On its Web site, ESPN Mobile says that it has “decided to change the direction of Mobile ESPN.” This is, of course, a euphemism for “sorry we tanked, your new phone may now be used as a paperweight or a very stylish tree ornament.” All kidding aside, the massive failure of ESPN Mobile provides a Continue Reading →