Content: Now “officially” free
I have long believed that it would become increasingly difficult to charge for content and there was only direction in which this was headed: all content (well, almost) becoming “officially” free.
Two recent developments look like nails being driven into the coffin of paid-for content:
1. Beta testing begins for Hulu and
2. How Radiohead killed the record labels
Many of you must have also read about Prince’s giveaway and FT’s about-turn
…and at least some of you would find this interesting: Why Newspapers Are Screwed
Thoughts & comments welcome…as always.
P.S. The alert amongst you must have noticed that I have switched AdSense off – more on that later.
Shantanu: While I agree with the trend in newspapers and print media in general, the record industry economics is very different, and a challenge to the intermediary’s role and value made possible immensely by the rapid growth of the web.
I wrote about this (Radiohead thing) about 4 weeks ago. It may interest you:
http://laviequotidienne.wordpress.com/2007/10/02/record-companies-are-dead-long-live-the-musician/
Thanks.
Comment by Shefaly Yogendra | October 31, 2007
Shantanu:
Content can really hold a lot of things hostage – profits included.
See ongoing saga in Hollywood and I think the demand is legitimate:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7072419.stm
Comment by Shefaly Yogendra | November 1, 2007