tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87928149245656091382011-09-15T21:10:28.732-04:00Discussions of economic forces that shape mass media.Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-15822396410951532262011-09-15T21:10:00.000-04:002011-09-15T21:10:28.764-04:00

The transition from traditional media markets to digital markets was one of the dominant threads of discussion during last week’s conference. Executives from traditional media firms who are trying to manage this transition disagreed on the best approach. This was not surprising given the complexity of the problems they face. Here are three pictures that illustrate some of the challenges for

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-86049211792881172011-09-13T13:57:00.002-04:002011-09-13T14:28:42.628-04:00

Eric Rothenbuhler of Ohio University wonders if economic logic falls a bit short when it comes to understanding what drives success for media companies.  Rothenbuhler, whose research focuses on the nature of communication, writes in response to yesterday’s post: Steve Wildman is right, of course, about the economic logic of servers versus channels and storage versus programming.  But media

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-44277304074751460722011-09-12T15:53:00.003-04:002011-09-12T21:52:13.556-04:00

Speakers at last week’s conference clarified what the exponential increase in production of digital media content means for different kinds of media firms. Steve Wildman of Michigan State University explained the negligible cost of storing content on a digital server removes an important constraint on the production of media content. This very low cost allows companies to open up their servers

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-91518436302255981882011-08-19T15:39:00.000-04:002011-08-19T15:39:11.908-04:00

Readers of this blog are invited to a Sept. 7 conference at The Scripps College of Communication  to discuss the challenges and opportunities for firms operating in fast-moving media markets. Richard A. Boehne, president and chief executive officer of The E.W. Scripps Company, will be the keynote speaker for Creating the Future: Managing Media in the Digital Age.  He will be joined by top

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-66940295905181949942010-05-06T13:30:00.004-04:002010-05-06T22:39:04.024-04:00

Members of My Online Journalism SeminarBack (L to R), Kristin Nehls, Tricia Flickinger, Alyse Kordenbrock, Jeremy Bookmyer, Ryan Lytle.Front, Jordan Valinsky, Erica Nunez.

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-86673349643979277942010-05-05T17:20:00.003-04:002010-05-05T22:17:19.225-04:00

The Washington Post Co., a bastion of journalistic excellence, wants to sell Newsweek because the magazine keeps losing money. This development illustrates why some proposals for preserving first-class newspapers and magazines are unlikely to succeed. The company has owned Newsweek since 1961. The company's record of journalistic excellence rests on reporting in both the Washington Post

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-30534184800051932862010-04-12T23:56:00.001-04:002010-04-13T13:10:47.886-04:00

As the first wave of iPad hype begins to recede, let's consider the possibility that Apple will repeat the pricing tactics used to launch the iPhone. Apple lowered the price of the iPhone by $200 just two months after its launch on an earlier wave of carefully-crafted publicity. Widespread outrage prompted Apple CEO Steve Jobs to offer early buyers a $100 store credit. This still looks like a

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-25966503126407546102010-03-11T01:25:00.003-05:002010-03-11T01:29:06.317-05:00

A lot of newspaper publishers and editors are understandably angry that Google is siphoning their revenue and readers.  But they should set that emotion aside for now, and listen to what the company's chief economist is saying about their industry. Hal Varian was already a distinguished research economist when he turned his attention to information economics.  His knowledge and authority were

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-7230531910198519002010-03-07T00:36:00.003-05:002010-03-07T00:49:59.022-05:00

The proliferation of channels for delivering entertainment, news, and dog pictures is now a defining characteristic of the markets where media firms compete.  Competition is increasingly about who controls popular channels where content must appear to reach large audiences. This creates a potential for conflict when one company owns a channel and another company produces content for the channel.

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-69757973715106487152010-03-07T00:32:00.001-05:002010-03-07T00:33:06.976-05:00

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-19264388887447583812010-02-24T14:19:00.002-05:002010-02-25T09:22:34.002-05:00

A badly-conceived "experiment" recently ended when the Miami Herald stopped asking its online readers for voluntary donations to help pay for news coverage. This had the feel of a gimmick when it began two months ago. As I recently noted, the print editions of most newspapers don't generate enough reader revenue to survive.  They rely on advertising. So it's hard to take seriously any talk 

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-89690672260383553792010-02-15T15:51:00.016-05:002010-02-15T22:52:58.479-05:00

The economics of social networking favor whoever attracts the most users first, so it's no surprise Google used its vast trove of user data to create millions of instant members when it launched a social networking site. Social networks become more valuable as more people join them, and Google's new site still has fewer users than Facebook. But coverage of Google's new social network -- Buzz --

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-73435144725887793412010-02-07T00:12:00.004-05:002010-02-07T21:54:54.154-05:00

Dick Cavett's meditation on the Tonight Show train wreck is a reminder that sometimes bad decisons cannot be stopped at even the most experienced companies. And it has always been thus.

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-55827998204880214262010-01-27T12:12:00.004-05:002010-01-27T14:46:24.902-05:00

Today is the breathlessly anticipated day Apple will unveil its tablet, and part of the buzz focuses on how much newspapers might charge for downloads to the device. Last week, the New York Times announced it will charge readers for unlimited access to its web site.These two things are probably not a coincidence. Last week I argued The Times is trying to limit the loss of print readers and make

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-23350501571749491612010-01-20T23:11:00.006-05:002010-01-21T00:43:04.650-05:00

The decision to charge for "frequent web access" to the New York Times web site is almost certainly not intended to generate enough revenue from readers to cover the newspaper's costs.Instead, the plan to offer access to a few articles free, but charge a fee for more extensive access appears to have three other goals. First, stem the loss of print readers who have shifted to the free web site,

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-68336792465579206782009-04-07T11:26:00.001-04:002009-04-07T11:49:25.243-04:00

Sometimes the other guys are just too good.

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-39458408992211253212009-04-06T14:07:00.003-04:002009-04-06T15:11:08.645-04:00

Six years ago the New York Times Co. paid more than $1 billion for the Boston Globe, bringing two of the most respected newspapers in the United States under common ownership. But this marquee purchase is ending badly as the Times Co. threatens to close the Globe if its unions fail to make major cost concessions.This threat has stirred understandable shock, given the Globe's reputation as a

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-36992695533173052562009-04-04T21:18:00.002-04:002009-04-04T21:19:33.323-04:00

Tom Izzo is a genius.

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-58753167436905050802009-02-27T14:16:00.010-05:002009-02-27T15:44:30.756-05:00

News that the 150 year old Rocky Mountain News will publish its last edition today is just the latest grim tale about prominent United States newspapers desperately seeking buyers, filing for bankruptcy, or struggling with quarter after quarter of declining revenue.All of this so unnerved the American Society of Newspaper Editors that it canceled its annual convention saying '"the challenges

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-68305872538915172772009-02-18T13:47:00.008-05:002009-02-18T17:59:12.797-05:00

The number of monthly visitors to major newspaper web sites increased significantly during the recent election, and then appeared to decline according to this chart compiled by the Nieman Foundation, which promotes journalistic excellence.But by concentrating on newspapers, the chart paints a misleading picture of digital competition to attract audiences interested in news.The New York Times has

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-18993858659374415202009-01-05T23:01:00.005-05:002009-01-07T22:08:38.214-05:00

Prof. Barry Litman used to sit quietly in meetings of my dissertation committee, holding a document I had labored over for days, waiting for his turn. He always began with a few introductory questions to be sure I understood what was coming next -- a single, penetrating query that would send me back to the library to spend hours digging through books and journal articles in search of an

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-35131157408442890312008-09-24T23:28:00.005-04:002008-09-25T00:08:59.375-04:00

By Stephen LacyProfessor, Department of Communication and School of JournalismMichigan State UniversityNewspapers are struggling with how to attract online visitors. This reflects the need to replace readers who are leaving the print newspaper, but more importantly, increasing online visitors will be essential for attracting advertisers to newspaper Web sites. Traditionally, advertisers follow

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-37897540881408426392008-08-12T22:00:00.007-04:002008-08-12T22:47:58.381-04:00

Executives at the Philadelphia Inquirer have issued a second memo clarifying plans to restrict online publication of some expensive or exclusive stories, apparently in response to a barrage of often ill-informed criticism.Yesterday, I argued the paper's plan to delay online publication of some stories makes economic sense because revenue per reader is still very small online. The paper did not

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-24287890352065873642008-08-11T23:59:00.008-04:002008-08-12T13:47:52.827-04:00

Monday's New York Times took an unjustified swipe at a sister paper for plans to delay web publication of expensive to report or popular to read stories until after those stories appear in print.Times media columnist David Carr sought out an entirely predictable quote from a former newspaperman turned "Web evangelist" denouncing the Philadelphia Inquirer for delaying online publication.But the

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-27744406965989809212008-03-26T23:58:00.006-04:002008-03-27T11:02:22.316-04:00

The $20 billion deal to sell Clear Channel Communications, which owns hundreds of radio stations across the country, is fading, another potential victim of the mortgage crisis.The Clear Channel sale was announced months ago, but six banks that agreed to finance the deal are getting cold feet. The banks contend the original terms of the deal would place them in the ranks of lenders who've been

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-19502069789963842952008-03-24T16:52:00.009-04:002008-03-25T10:59:31.327-04:00

The justice department has concluded consumers won't be hurt by the controversial proposal to merge both satellite radio companies, saying competition from other sources ensures consumers won't face higher prices if the deal goes through.The decision, announced today, states competition between XM and Sirius is already limited because both companies rely on exclusive contracts to put radios in

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-15515656449888947402007-12-18T16:56:00.000-05:002007-12-18T17:52:29.713-05:00

The Federal Communications Commission today voted to tighten regulation of cable companies, and ease regulation of newspaper and broadcast companies. The votes are a triumph for FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, who last month suffered a temporary defeat when he brought the cable proposal up for a vote.Today's victory on the cable issue may also be temporary given strong and continuing industry

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-2301680869271807252007-12-13T17:12:00.000-05:002007-12-13T17:45:33.322-05:00

The economics of information are particularly important on the web where reproduction and distribution costs are remarkably small. This guest post describes new research on information distribution in newsgroups. The post was generously provided by one of the study's authors.Identifying Discussion Leaders and Information Sourcesby Itai Himmelboim1 Here’s some old news: one of the greatest

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-50027042090448109082007-11-28T10:30:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:47:07.671-05:00

The effort to impose new cable television regulations that renewed discussion of selling subscriptions to individual channels has apparently collapsed under strong pressure from cable companies.However, potential changes in ownership restrictions and other regulations, not the sale of individual channels, were behind the collapse. Reports this morning say a Nov. 27 meeting of the Federal

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-32577512646285581672007-11-26T21:55:00.000-05:002007-11-26T21:56:05.551-05:00

Technorati Profile

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-11472867671771304462007-11-24T20:42:00.000-05:002007-11-25T12:54:51.098-05:00

The Federal Communications Commission is making serious noises about new regulations for cable television, including allowing subscribers to buy channels one at a time. This idea is likely to have strong superficial appeal for anyone paying for channels that they never watch -- a group that may include most cable subscribers.But, as Joe Nocera points out in his New York Times column, if a la

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-44901886331596975172007-09-20T23:30:00.001-04:002007-09-23T17:00:48.741-04:00

NBC is ending sales of its popular programs on Apple's popular Itunes, making digital versions of "The Office" and its kin available for free from the network. Viewers will watch the programs for 7 days before the file self destructs, but they won't be allowed to avoid the commercials. The network will also sell commercial-free versions that don't vanish from the customer's hard drive.There are

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-22410142647136899902007-07-22T19:27:00.000-04:002007-07-23T14:55:55.380-04:00

The Bancroft family meets Monday, July 23, to finally decide if they will sell Dow Jones & Co. to News Corp., the company that is Rupert Murdoch's global media behemoth. This may be the last of four separate deals involving seven companies with journalistic reputations that were established over decades.Dow Jones owns the Wall Street Journal, respected for prize-winning news coverage viewed as

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-88024666638402731722007-02-28T00:12:00.000-05:002007-02-28T10:03:22.050-05:00

A report that Google and Yahoo are losing ad sales to an upstart might, at first glance, raise doubts about the search giants’ understanding of the advertising business. However, a closer look suggests the famously smart people at Google and Yahoo know exactly what they are doing.The article in Monday’s New York Times reports a new company, Quigo Technologies, convinced Fox, ESPN, and Cox

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-72060612353841603242007-02-26T13:02:00.000-05:002007-02-26T13:20:57.729-05:00

Prof. Stephen Lacy of Michigan State University is this blog's first guest commentator. He has this response to my Feb. 21 suggestion that prices will be higher if the two satellite radio companies are allowed to merge:"The particular blog prompted an idea about substitutes. Satellite really has two submarkets -- in the home and in the car.In the home, Sirius and XM compete with the three-dozen

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792814924565609138.post-48443977750096024932007-02-21T21:59:00.000-05:002007-07-23T17:31:21.448-04:00

The proposed merger of the satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, is getting a lot of attention because of the size of the deal (Bloomberg reports its worth $4.84 billion), because of uncertainty about how federal regulators will view the deal, and because consumers might be hurt by the reduction in competition.The companies have about 14 million subscribers between them, each paying about $13

Hugh J. Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02938199277395124137noreply@blogger.com0