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.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
The World of Apps
I have just spent the last 2 weeks immersed in the world of Apple and its’ apps on behalf of a client and have found some simply staggering results. The pace at which the app market has exploded has undoubtedly taken the technology world by storm, within the 2 and a half weeks I have been actively researching the market the number of apps within the store has grown from 85,000 to over 100,000.
Obviously not all of these applications are going to be top quality, and without doubt many of them are free and pointless but the sheer volume of them suggests that there is profit to be made within the industry. Having done case studies and detailed research into many apps it has become clear that the majority of creators and sellers are very small businesses who have little if any means of mass marketing and PR, this suggests that when bigger companies do put resources behind apps the consumers spend freely on purchasing the new ‘must have’ app. At the moment few big corporations have mass produced or promoted apps but with the news that Smule, creators of the popular ‘I am T-Pain’ app, have garnered a $3 million profit on their product we suspect more companies will be further flooding the market shortly.
It has also come to our attention that not many companies are significantly monitoring and tracking the usage and marketing of apps and it is an area that MarketEvolution are now going to further specialise in, the industry is fast growing and quickly developing and we believe the lack of consumer insight in this area is something that we need to change.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Done Deal - London Lite to close
So here it is news that the London Lite is to close (the news delivered somewhat ironically in the Evening Standard).
Its a shock but not a surprise (to followers of this blog).
The axe fell on the title not today but months ago in a 'you axe yours and we'll axe ours' arrangement between Associated and News International.
We forecasted the double header here and we took some industry stick for doing so and now its come to pass.
The conclusion is very sensible by the way. The losses were unsustainable and the money is far better spent on the upholding the quality of their respective National titles rather that butting heads in the London market.
This leaves the London afternoon slot completely competition free and open for the recently turned free Evening Standard. Some of you might be justifiably suspicious that the Standard might themselves have been in on the deal and that they had prior knowledge that the field would open up for them giving them the courage to give up of £75k a week cover price revenues in pursuit of extra (free) copies and ad revenues. Who knows?
Very tidy arrangement all round (unless you happen to be an employee of either of the closed/closing title)
Suppose the one remaining question is will Lite and Standard merge? Perhaps that was always on the cards. I think yes but we'll see.
Its a shock but not a surprise (to followers of this blog).
The axe fell on the title not today but months ago in a 'you axe yours and we'll axe ours' arrangement between Associated and News International.
We forecasted the double header here and we took some industry stick for doing so and now its come to pass.
The conclusion is very sensible by the way. The losses were unsustainable and the money is far better spent on the upholding the quality of their respective National titles rather that butting heads in the London market.
This leaves the London afternoon slot completely competition free and open for the recently turned free Evening Standard. Some of you might be justifiably suspicious that the Standard might themselves have been in on the deal and that they had prior knowledge that the field would open up for them giving them the courage to give up of £75k a week cover price revenues in pursuit of extra (free) copies and ad revenues. Who knows?
Very tidy arrangement all round (unless you happen to be an employee of either of the closed/closing title)
Suppose the one remaining question is will Lite and Standard merge? Perhaps that was always on the cards. I think yes but we'll see.
Monday, 26 October 2009
E - readers - battle hots up
We are following the e-reader debate very closely. We are big fans as we see the e-reader as heralding a life saving revolution in publishing.
We are pleased to see a number of newspapers participating in Amazon's Kindle. We still believe that the economics stack up to give free readers with subscriptions although to our knowledge no-one has gone for that radical model as yet.
Here is a short Reuters video on the latest device to hit the shops from Barnes & Noble and look out for Plastic Logic's Que reader with launches in January 2010.
Twitter costs UK business £1.8 billion
I love these reports that always accompany the rise of popular media - ba humbug
UK businesses are losing £1.83bn in productivity because employees are using social networks such as Twitter at work.
In a survey of 1,460 office workers, commissioned by IT services firm Morse, 57% of respondents said they use social networking sites for personal reasons during work time.
The report reveals that workers spend on average 40 minutes a week on the sites. Some respondents believe that some colleagues spend about one hour a day on these websites.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Nokia versus Apple Patent Dispute
Finnish mobile giant Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple on Thursday on grounds that the iPhone maker has used Nokia’s mobile technology without permission.
The case is filed in the Federal District Court in Delaware and alleges that Apple has used 10 Nokia-patented technology standards in the iPhone since its 2007 launch, relating to wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption.
In its release, Nokia complains that it’s spent €40 million billion ($60 billion) on R&D in the last 20 years and that its licensed its tech standards to manufacturers in 40 countries worldwide.
Nokia’s VP for legal & IP Ilkka Rahnasto is taking no prisoners: “By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation,” he says.
Now we are are very interested by this as we have our own patents in the mobile technology space so its very relevant stuff for us.
On the surface we, of course, have sympathy with Nokia but I'm sure Apple will counter claim and the lawyers will get rich. We don't think this action is entirely motivated by the stellar rise of the iphone and the huge loss of Nokia market share. Also I'm sure that Nokia's move will open the flood gates for other patent holders to take a legal swing at Apple. Either way we will watch this one carefully and share all developments with you.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
ABCe: guardian.co.uk hits record unique user number of 32.9million
Reported on mediaguardian.co uk this morning:
"The Guardian News & Media's website network which includes content from the Observer and MediaGuardian.co.uk, attracted 32,953,433 unique users, up 23.62% from August and an increase of 36.25% year on year, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic published today.
Emily Bell, director of digital content at Guardian News and Media, said: "Breaking 30 million users is another milestone for guardian.co.uk. We are delighted to see a healthy interest in online news across the board and to have smashed the 30 million barrier with well over 32 million unique users to set a new record for guardian.co.uk and online newspapers.
Both our global and UK success can be attributed to our sustained investment in web content. The newly launched environment site attracted a significant number of new users and our new TV site, offering user-friendly listings, has encouraged repeat visitors and increased engagement."
Must make those £90m a year losses feel much better as the cold winter nights start to draw in.
Newspapers may have the largest audience reach in their history, but size of audience is not related to the commercial reality of right now. Engaging those customers in a profitable relationship is much harder than good old SEO. Time to stop blowing that trumpet and get someone to pay for the performance.
"The Guardian News & Media's website network which includes content from the Observer and MediaGuardian.co.uk, attracted 32,953,433 unique users, up 23.62% from August and an increase of 36.25% year on year, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations Electronic published today.
Emily Bell, director of digital content at Guardian News and Media, said: "Breaking 30 million users is another milestone for guardian.co.uk. We are delighted to see a healthy interest in online news across the board and to have smashed the 30 million barrier with well over 32 million unique users to set a new record for guardian.co.uk and online newspapers.
Both our global and UK success can be attributed to our sustained investment in web content. The newly launched environment site attracted a significant number of new users and our new TV site, offering user-friendly listings, has encouraged repeat visitors and increased engagement."
Must make those £90m a year losses feel much better as the cold winter nights start to draw in.
Newspapers may have the largest audience reach in their history, but size of audience is not related to the commercial reality of right now. Engaging those customers in a profitable relationship is much harder than good old SEO. Time to stop blowing that trumpet and get someone to pay for the performance.
Thought for today - customer relationships
'The value lies in managing your relationships with your customers and that is where you should put your effort'
Mia de Kuijper, author Profit Power Economics
Mia de Kuijper, author Profit Power Economics
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Post from America 2
Couple of snippets from the US roadtrip worth mentioning.
Firstly the New York Times are running 50% off subscription offers using TV ads, presumably alongside in-paper comms. Interesting that they feel that they need to bolster the in-paper space with TV, presumably endorsing the view we have that newspapers need to work more closely with other media channels to maximise ad revenue opportunities. On the back of the US vs UK NMA ads shown below - which are quite strikingly different - are the NMA looking at what's happening on this side of the Atlantic?
Secondly, following up on the Twitter based backlash towards Jan Moir's Gately article. The Burlington Free Press (daily broadsheet, 75cents cover price, 16 pages, some colour) carried the story on page 2 today, showing just how small technology has made the world become. Stephen Fry was mentioned as the instigator behind the backlash, wonder how many of the locals knew who he was, let alone Stephen Gately.
Firstly the New York Times are running 50% off subscription offers using TV ads, presumably alongside in-paper comms. Interesting that they feel that they need to bolster the in-paper space with TV, presumably endorsing the view we have that newspapers need to work more closely with other media channels to maximise ad revenue opportunities. On the back of the US vs UK NMA ads shown below - which are quite strikingly different - are the NMA looking at what's happening on this side of the Atlantic?
Secondly, following up on the Twitter based backlash towards Jan Moir's Gately article. The Burlington Free Press (daily broadsheet, 75cents cover price, 16 pages, some colour) carried the story on page 2 today, showing just how small technology has made the world become. Stephen Fry was mentioned as the instigator behind the backlash, wonder how many of the locals knew who he was, let alone Stephen Gately.
Blackberry watch?
We've blogged before about phone watches so we are excited by this one that says its a Blackerry watch. Not manufactured by Blackberry but designed to be fully compatible with Blackberry nevertheless. And primarily intended for showing incoming calls/message.
Works for me!
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