<<Duncan, First Call and MF could flee also.>>
AOL management has announced a new approach to their content partners: Bring AOL unique content, not available on your website, or at a minimum, charge for similar content on your website. Also, AOL plans to start taking a slice of the ad revenue their content partners are generating on AOL.
The weeding out and standards raising process begins. Debate the merits...Doubt their ability to pull it off...It is a plan that addresses how to add value to the online experience at AOL.
It may result in higher quality content. It may result in higher traffic and ad revenues for the survivors who are willing to play AOL's way. Those that don't like it will flee for the freedom and self sufficiency of the wild, wacky, waitful, web. Maybe they can attract the eyeballs AND achieve sufficient ad revenues to survive, maybe not.
Pittman is beginning to raise the bar to ensure that the content IS worth the extra bucks. If AOL doesn't do this, CA// and Duncan are right in their doomish assessment.
Pointcast announcement with MSN is a biggie, isn't it? IMO, AOL will answer with its own version. NONE of this stuff is protected, all is copyable, and AOL will keep following along with its mass of subscribers, scooping up the great ideas from the innovators. A great, grazing, whale, just like Microsoft.
This discussion board at times reminds me of the VHS vs Beta or PC vs MAC debates: One side technically superior, (and pure of heart?) vs the plodding "Average Joe" market standard that keeps creeping along, with little that is innovative, but gaining market share relentlessly.
It's enough to p*ss a purist off.
Keep an open mind,
Brian
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