Week of April 17, 2006

Mobile Audio, Mobile Video… Now Mobile Magazines

Monday, April 17, 2006

TocMag is a new website that will allow content creators to develop mobile magazines for mobile users to download.

As we've stated over and over, the divergence of content from one source to multiple distribution channels and media is a major trend you need to embrace, and companies like TocMag, which can facilitate that, will be important vendors in the new media landscape.

Keeping The Affiliates Happy

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

It is probably no surprise that affiliates aren't happy about ABC providing show content free online the day after it is broadcast. Their fear is that this will hurt ratings on terrestrial TV. While ABC, NBC, and CBS have yet to work this out, FOX has just finalized "new media" negotiations with their affiliates and have set up revenue sharing based on "non-linear" usage of re-purposed network content.

Look for similar agreements from the other three networks as they find a way to keep their important consituents happy while not falling further behind in the video on demand space.

Radio's Lack Of Web Infrastructure

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

That radio is lacking an online sales and content infrastructure was made perfectly clear this week with the release of the Borrell Associates survey of online revenue. Radio badly lags behind both television and newspapers in a segment that is exploding in growth.

The Borrell report (What Local Media Websites Earn and available at www.borrellassociates.com) paints a rosy picture for online advertising from local agencies and business. Local online ad sales were up 78% to $4.8 billion in 2005, and the major local web sites brought in spectacular revenue: The largest local web site in most markets will generate more in sales this year than the largest-grossing radio station in the market.

MTV/Microsoft Music Store To Launch Later This Year

Thursday, April 20, 2006

MTV announced the launch of MTV Urge, a music service integrated with Windows Media Player, late last year, and the launch was mentioned once again at CES by no less than Bill Gates. Now comes word that the service is preparing for a second half 2006 release, with the program in early beta right now.

So Much For Loss Leading

Friday, April 21, 2006

Much of the criticism that Apple has been receiving from labels for the flat pricing of iTunes tracks at 99 cents is that Apple isn't so much looking to make money on the songs so much as to sell iPods. While that is true to an extent, the labels can't dismiss the iTunes Music Store as a loss leader any more--The iTunes Music Store turned a profit for the first quarter of 2006.

Check back Monday for more trends and insights.