The Sun's new iPhone app - allowing Dreamteam owners to run their teams on the go - has just launched into the crowded app market.
We applaud the thinking, we helped launch a mobile based version of the Telegraph game about 4 years ago (which proved to be somewhat ahead of its time) but we're watching this space closely to see how this now develops.
Looking forward to seeing the next football gaming developments coming to market shortly. It's a great way to cement engagement with this audience
Monday, 30 November 2009
INM completes debt restructuring - finally
The Indie publisher has—finally—put an end to its debt restructuring saga. The company won shareholder support for its finance package at an EGM in Dublin on Thursday and has already secured bondholder support. The sale of South African advertiser INM Outdoor was also approved.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Market Evolution oversees NSPCC Campaign
Our thanks to our friends at uber cool ad agency (Beta) for their help in making this wicked TV ad campaign for the NSPCC's Dream Auction 2 fundraiser. The ad below is one of 3 TV treatments.
The campaign encompasses TV, cinema, radio, print and online.
All time, production, media space and creative input has been donated free. So thank you to all involved.
Dream Auction 2 starts on Dec 1 and runs for 12 days. Bid Now
The campaign encompasses TV, cinema, radio, print and online.
All time, production, media space and creative input has been donated free. So thank you to all involved.
Dream Auction 2 starts on Dec 1 and runs for 12 days. Bid Now
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Murdoch pitches his tanks on Google's lawn
The ongoing saga into how KRM will move towards charging for online content continues apace, with the Microsoft talks to tie-up revenue for content apparently moving along nicely.
Mr Murdoch appears to have decided he will not lose very much by ditching Google traffic and even a fairly small payment from Microsoft would compensate.
We like the sentiment, as a gazillion unique users has always been a flawed business model, and it does make more sense to make at least some money out of content, than continue giving it away for free. However, it's not usual for Mr Murdoch to be cast in the role of the under-dog, fighting the bigger beast of Google is a step back 20 years in time.
Will he make it work? Arguably if anyone can, he can. But we can't help but think that Google won't actually be that bothered. Will they retaliate? Not sure they will, they have bigger fish to fry.
And that's the most eye-opening thought about Google's dominance at the moment.
Mr Murdoch appears to have decided he will not lose very much by ditching Google traffic and even a fairly small payment from Microsoft would compensate.
We like the sentiment, as a gazillion unique users has always been a flawed business model, and it does make more sense to make at least some money out of content, than continue giving it away for free. However, it's not usual for Mr Murdoch to be cast in the role of the under-dog, fighting the bigger beast of Google is a step back 20 years in time.
Will he make it work? Arguably if anyone can, he can. But we can't help but think that Google won't actually be that bothered. Will they retaliate? Not sure they will, they have bigger fish to fry.
And that's the most eye-opening thought about Google's dominance at the moment.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Daily Mail feels the full force of social media
Have a look at this clip on YouTube.
Its an extremely potent example of the power of social media and its consequences for brands.
Its an extremely potent example of the power of social media and its consequences for brands.
News snippets
Some odds and ends to highlight this morning.
More pain at the Guardian, with another 100 jobs being chopped in the light of continued increasing losses. The Observer is going on a crash diet usually only seen in the 3am pages of the Mirror, slimming down to a four section package, with main news, sport, review and the magazine. Business, which I personally thought was the best section in the paper (and in the market), is being swallowed up in the main section, which is a shame. Like all re-launches, slimming it down and keeping the £2 cover price may well prompt a consumer reassessment of value, so expect the ABC's to show a slight decline into Q2 next year.
Trinity Mirror have reported better than expected ad revenue figures, with the nationals holding up better than the regionals. No need to comment here, those of you who know us well know we have a vested interest in the performance of TM.
Timesonline looks likely to introduce a paywall in Q1 2010, as KRM's crusade away from free content continues (note to self, see how that expensive acquisition of myspace fits into that strategy...). Free to Times+ subscribers we're assuming, chargeable to everyone else. But micro-payments or subscription? More research out today saying that people may consider paying to read specific columnists, but only in increments of 10p or less. Put a 10p charge for 500 digital words from Jeremy Clarkson into the context of £2 for 13 sections, 8 inches of height and two dead trees worth of Sunday Times, and I know where I'd rather spend my hard earned pennies. Give me the dead tree version anytime.
More pain at the Guardian, with another 100 jobs being chopped in the light of continued increasing losses. The Observer is going on a crash diet usually only seen in the 3am pages of the Mirror, slimming down to a four section package, with main news, sport, review and the magazine. Business, which I personally thought was the best section in the paper (and in the market), is being swallowed up in the main section, which is a shame. Like all re-launches, slimming it down and keeping the £2 cover price may well prompt a consumer reassessment of value, so expect the ABC's to show a slight decline into Q2 next year.
Trinity Mirror have reported better than expected ad revenue figures, with the nationals holding up better than the regionals. No need to comment here, those of you who know us well know we have a vested interest in the performance of TM.
Timesonline looks likely to introduce a paywall in Q1 2010, as KRM's crusade away from free content continues (note to self, see how that expensive acquisition of myspace fits into that strategy...). Free to Times+ subscribers we're assuming, chargeable to everyone else. But micro-payments or subscription? More research out today saying that people may consider paying to read specific columnists, but only in increments of 10p or less. Put a 10p charge for 500 digital words from Jeremy Clarkson into the context of £2 for 13 sections, 8 inches of height and two dead trees worth of Sunday Times, and I know where I'd rather spend my hard earned pennies. Give me the dead tree version anytime.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Social time
An interesting statistic released by Nielsen Online today states that the average person who uses Facebook has spent over 70 hours on the site during the last year. This is a simply staggering amount and highlights just how social networking has become an invaluable addition to everyday life for users.
The report also states that 80% of all British internet users visited one or more social networking sites during September 2009. This seems to suggest the desire for Facebook, Twitter and other such sites is increasing. With the advent of Real-Time search engines and the demand for change in the way we view the internet it is clear Social networking is not a fad that is going to pass but a fast developing fundamental part of the digital age.
The report also states that 80% of all British internet users visited one or more social networking sites during September 2009. This seems to suggest the desire for Facebook, Twitter and other such sites is increasing. With the advent of Real-Time search engines and the demand for change in the way we view the internet it is clear Social networking is not a fad that is going to pass but a fast developing fundamental part of the digital age.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Google to buy AdMob
Google said this evening that it will buy AdMob, a mobile display ad technology provider, for $750 million in stock.
Surprise, surprise.
For Google owning ad search/placement on mobile is above all else the most critical strategic and commercial play.
The purchase of Admob is a significant step toward this singular aim. And they are paying in stock ie its cheap!
Surprise, surprise.
For Google owning ad search/placement on mobile is above all else the most critical strategic and commercial play.
The purchase of Admob is a significant step toward this singular aim. And they are paying in stock ie its cheap!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Friday 13th - Unlucky for some
The fat lady is warming up and a long way down the red carpet already as London Lite moves into its last week of publication.
Friday 13th November will see the last ever edition of the paper, leaving the Evening Standard with a clear run at attaining a profitable advertising revenue stream with its new free-for-all business model.
Not a lot of point reflecting wistfully on London Lite's greatest moments, or how hundreds of thousands of loyal readers will shed a number of tears, it's just not that sort of newspaper.
Instead, it'll be unlucky for the editorial team who wrote it, the hand distributors who braved the weather to hand it out, and the other associated people who earned money from the business overall. Anyone with a major contract with London Lite will be feeling the pressure bigtime already, but Friday 13th will certainly be unlucky for them.
Now to see if the Evening Standard can rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of the London newspaper market. We're not convinced it can do, but we watch with interest.
Friday 13th November will see the last ever edition of the paper, leaving the Evening Standard with a clear run at attaining a profitable advertising revenue stream with its new free-for-all business model.
Not a lot of point reflecting wistfully on London Lite's greatest moments, or how hundreds of thousands of loyal readers will shed a number of tears, it's just not that sort of newspaper.
Instead, it'll be unlucky for the editorial team who wrote it, the hand distributors who braved the weather to hand it out, and the other associated people who earned money from the business overall. Anyone with a major contract with London Lite will be feeling the pressure bigtime already, but Friday 13th will certainly be unlucky for them.
Now to see if the Evening Standard can rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of the London newspaper market. We're not convinced it can do, but we watch with interest.
Monday, 2 November 2009
News International continues to retreat from "free"
News today that NI are going to stop bulk sales of its newspapers, though this will only impact The Times and The Sunday Times. Hot on the heels of the closure of the LondonPaper, this is another step towards implementing KRM's dictate that all content is paid for, rather than given away.
Bulks have been a bolt-on to the actual sales number for too long now, and previously we've always argued that they have little real value as we've never seen any evidence that the trail they generate ever converts into purchase.
However, in the current market and climate, where the number of people actually reading (and buying) print copies of newspapers is decreasing so rapidly, the time could actually be right for bulks to have more of a value. Previously, it was all about converting print buyers from competitive titles - give them the paper for free and they might switch over. But now, it's more about keeping print buyers in the habit of buying and reading print newspapers. There is an argument that bulks would work better to re-inforce or re-start the print readership habit - particularly on the right flights and in the right hotels, where people have time to read and remember the value of a good old fashioned dead tree.
An alternative point of view I concede, but it's got some merit. It's no longer about trial, it's about protecting existing print buying behaviour.
Anyone have a point of view?
Bulks have been a bolt-on to the actual sales number for too long now, and previously we've always argued that they have little real value as we've never seen any evidence that the trail they generate ever converts into purchase.
However, in the current market and climate, where the number of people actually reading (and buying) print copies of newspapers is decreasing so rapidly, the time could actually be right for bulks to have more of a value. Previously, it was all about converting print buyers from competitive titles - give them the paper for free and they might switch over. But now, it's more about keeping print buyers in the habit of buying and reading print newspapers. There is an argument that bulks would work better to re-inforce or re-start the print readership habit - particularly on the right flights and in the right hotels, where people have time to read and remember the value of a good old fashioned dead tree.
An alternative point of view I concede, but it's got some merit. It's no longer about trial, it's about protecting existing print buying behaviour.
Anyone have a point of view?
Books bigger than games on iPhone
Games have been the No. 1 app on Apple’s iPhone for a while. That was true every month from August 2008 to August 2009. But in September and October, books surpassed games as the No. 1 category of new apps released, according to analytics firm Flurry. The chart shows how books have surged in the past four months and how new book releases exceeded new game releases in September.
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