My last post was about the US newspaper industry and their current dilemma, declining advertising revenues while most/all of their content is online and free.
Whilst most of my interest has been in video communication and broadcasting, the above fascinates me as I belief that the print media is facing a quantum shift in its production/revenue model similar to what music faced a decade ago. Several of the so called blog media experts believe that broadcast TV is the next in line albeit further down the timeline. No doubt highly influenced by high quality broadband access and low cost. The US having both of these is experiencing it right now, how long for NZ?
The argument behind all of this is the concept of free, and the right of the individual who believes that if its digital I should get it for nothing aka via the Internet.
This has lead me to read the book "What Would Google Do?" by Jeff Jarvis (his blog http://www.buzzmachine.com see sidebar).
His recently released book looks at old business models and how they will need to change to survive, based on how Google would do it. He illustrates across a gambit of industries. Its an interesting read. Whilst illustrated with numerous examples I still struggle with concept of "free" and how this could be applied as widely as suggested to all businesses. That aside it creates thought.
Contrary to the above is an argument from garciainteractive.com that the free business model is flawed.
One think is certain, we are all scratching around to find the business model for this century that works. No doubt the current recession has put paid to a lot of business models both old and new.
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