Here is an edited version of that TVW Chat:
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REVENUE STRUCTURE OF TVW:
Q: Is there some way we can put a value on each new chanel that gets signed up?
A: Channel underwriter fees run between $2500.00-$5,000 per month with one to five year contracts. The underwriter also gets discounts on live events, but remember the real revenue is generated from the advertising, e-commerce, pay per view and subscription revenue streams which are sold within each community. In thet way, the underwriter derives a return on his investment.
Q: Are the revenue streams generated within each community variable--that is, does TVW get the same amount per click whatever channel, or are there different structures for each channel?
A: it varies proportionally with each channel.
Q: the revenue streams vary proportionally based on what?
A: Look at the range in demographics of the channels, some will do more e-commerce, some more live events, some more pay per view training. Its a function of the niche and the underwriter.
Q: Dave do the company keep a count on how many vieweres log on to the live events?and also how many people access the stored webcasts?
A: Yes
Q: What is the mechanism at work for counting eyeballs? Clicks? Sales?
A: We are working with several logging programs to count the vast hits we get for the range of multi-media we offer. We have found through testing we're not always getting full credit for streaming hits. Doug Dougherty our engineer, is cuurently re-configuring our logging for customized support to TV onthe WEBd
Q: are eyeballs the real meeasure or length of stays and what viewers do IE relook or buy. those video ads are impressive
A: Exactly.."Stickiness and lenght of stay are in (We excel there) CPM's are out.
Q: is it your opinion that the underwriters see a real tangable benifit from opening up a "channel" or do you envision most of these channels to be a loss for the underwriters but it gives them valuable exposure to a new audience?
A: both...they see it as establishing themselves as the first sposor of a tv channelin that niche market..its real estate on an active site.s-
Q: We're getting close to what I am trying to find out! So your cut is based on some sort of ratio between the type of events broadcast and the number of viewers?
A: This question was not answered
FUTURE PRESS RELEASES, PARTICULARLY APRIL
Q: Will there be any major announcements at NAB ?
A: yes there will be several announcements and a very visible presence.
Q: The general opinion is that as the bandwidth problems continue to improve that more and more competition will emerge in the webcasting arena. Do you believe your early presence in the marketplace will aid you in your attempt to grow? Also do you envision as the competition grows your profits and margins may be squeezed?
A: good questions. We are the leaders in narrowcast and the web is a narrowcast medium. This streaming market is so new that we hold a charter and pioneering position with resources and assets no one can duplicate. Some of our upcoming channel announcements in April will clearly show from the magnitude of the underwriter how we have established ourselves and others are staking out their claims on our network early. Its even suprised me how quickly that's happened.dmmmuand always No PM
Q: what is the strategic importance of the geographic location of GMG in VA and the new facilities to come in LA and NYC. Does it come down to the fact that although this is a global medium, advertisng is best when localized?
A: April will be a month that will help explain-Stay tuned at NAB.
Q: In the previous fireside chat you mentioned the PR group getting into gear. I would just like to say that it at least appears that it has started to get some mentions here and there. Tellum we're grateful!
A: you ain't seen nothing yet . Wait for April.
Q: @ NAB, don't forget to interview representatives from AXC & MicroNet
A: already being arranged.
Q: We had some discussion about AXC's reflected glory in TVonthe Web's publicity. Do you see any problem with AXC putting out releases with essentially the same information, but but from the viewpoint of AXC? "Ampex announces its TVW sub signs up xxx"?
A: good idea.
Q: Is TVW advertising on newspaper? i heard someone saw something about TVW advertisment
A: its just beginning. It takes time to do effective PR, time I recognize we don't have. But April will be very interesting.
Comment: American City Business Journals
Q: concerning the NAB. What benifits do you expect to gain by attending? I know the Producers channel will be webcasting but do you anticipate making business contacts and creating awareness ofTVonthe Web?
A: NAB itself is in a major stage of transition. The Sands Convemtion center has all the hot acts. Internet, Multimedia, etc. We wouldn't be where we were if we weren't active at NAB last year. This year the "broadcasters" will discover "narrowcasting".ubr
QUESTIONS REGARDING AMPEX, OTHER DIVISIONS OF AMPEX
Q: could you reflect on Ampex's investment and Ed B's "vision"?
A: Ed has a vision. he just doesn't have the freedom to talk about it as much as I do.
Q: Will [Ed's] vision take a long time to come to fruition?
A: April will be a very important month for TV onthe WEB as it relates to everyone's vision
Q: Regarding the 10-k, Ed B states that production houses are under way in NY and LA, and eventually all major cities in the US and world. Will these studios act as places for small businesses to come and film a "web-mercial" and then let Ampex stream it to their home page?
A: Nice idea..can't comment
Q: Dave, When will you interview Ed Bramson Live ?
A: I do that almost everyday..its just not public.
Q: to your knowledge has PSINet evaluated Ampex equipment
A: in process
Q: Will Ampex be a part of the forthcoming Malta announcement, or will it be a TVontheWeb only type of operation?
A: HMMM. Can't comment
Q: [Will there be a] AXCBackup.Com type of Digital Storage for Malta?
A: Hmmm. can't comment.
Comment: I understand--was hoping you would say that some of the posts have been right on target about that one too!
Q: if you could state the future of Ampex in one word........
A: Juggernaut
Q: is there any current plan AEN? AEN has been quiet lately
A: AENTV is a greta operation. Stay tuned.
Q:Dave, do you own shares of Ampex??????
A: This question was not answered
Q: Do you happen to know the kind of bandwidth that the proposed Ampex Network need?
A: This question was not answered
Suggestion: can you tell Ampex & Reiter, they need to update their frontpage. it is Dead & Old
Q: have you gotten any cross referrals from AMPEX/Reiter? The one that comes to mind might be the Public Braodcasting System (PBS) as AXC is selling them tecnology.
A: This question was not answered
Dow18k:What, if any AXC technology is TVW utilizing at this time? Future?
A: This question was not answered
Q: what do you think about online "document banks" and the recent announcement from IBM that they will backup (over the internet) desktop computers for 20$ a month? Do you think Reiters take advantage of this oppertunity?
A: This question was not answered
QUESTIONS REGARDING BROADCAST/POTENTIAL IPO
Q: any thoughts on Yahoo buying Broadcast.com for so much money?
A: That is an important event. We've been swamped with interest since that happened. Cuban did well for himself. It has important implications for us.bigg
Q: Swamped with interest from who? --other web portals??
A: other major channel underwriters
Q: what do you think about the Yahoo/Broadcast.com deal
A: The yahoo /broadcast.com question is an important one. Again, I stress it has huge implications for us.This will become apparent shortly.
Q: IPO?
A: good question.huge question.
Q: do you see tvontheweb ipo d in the next 3 months?
A: Can't comment- But I must say some of the analysis I've seen on the boards is right on target. If you think about it hard enough there is a logical answer concerning an IPO. I just can't comment.hink if you
Q: you need Ampex because you needed cash. Do you anticipate that once the infastruture is in place your capital expendatures will become more in line with sales. Or is the medium such that as technical innovations arrive you will have to adopt them to stay even/ahead of the competition. Just wondering if your idea can ever become a real profitable enterprise.
A: There's no question in my ming that we'll be profitable. As opposed to Broadcast .com, we'll implement our model.
Q: is there any chance at all that any future annual meetings will be narrowcast?
A: If I was chairman of a public company, I would narrowcast the annual meetings. Maybe someday I will be.
Q: Can we be the First BUY TVW stock. i would be honored
Q: how is TVW's cash flow position and are there any burn rates that you could share?
Q: Can we lookforeward to that narrowcast annual meeting, say next year?
Comment: i really like to see narrowcasting of earning reports & annual meeting. all shareholders and potential investor will attend.
Comment:I don't see how Ampex can afford to NOT broadcast its Annual Meeting this year and expect to sign up other corporations!
A: Sorry, everyone. I've got to go. All I can say is Yahoo paid 5.7 billion for a reason. We're all on the same team. Things just don't always happen as fast a everyone would like. Its happening now...stay tuned. Happy Easter.
QUESTIONS REGARDING MALTA CABLE
Q: What happen to the Melatia Cable deal?
A: Melita is imminent. Slowed sown by their independence day and good friday in a 98% catholic country. Stay tuned. The MOU has been finalized
Q: So [Malta will be] the test market?
A: Malta will be a catalyst for the future of on-demand TV. Its got huge bandwidth(fiber to the curb and from digital starage to demographic-targeted channel content will open up major doors.
Q: What speeds will you be broadcasting with in Malta, given the fiber infrastructure they have?
A: 100-200-500K
QUESTIONS REGARDING CURRENT, PAST PERFORMANCE
Q: How about another advertising icon on the bottom of the frontpage of TVW? I see TVW has put one on the top.
Q: Based on the number of live events and new ads, can I assume you had good results in Feb and March?
A: Feb March revenue and traffic numbers were met. The increase in advertising is a result of that.
QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS REGARDING NEW CHANNELS
Suggestion: I just had a terrible experience at the Post Office today filing out Certified Mail forms--the U.S. Post Office needs a Help Channel for us ignorant taxpayers, we the people will underwrite it //haha
A: good idea, Ken's taking notes
Q: I've heard a rumor that TVontheWeb may be establishing an auction channel with live video and audio for Bid.com.
A: No. Not to my knowledge, although we have a lot of deals in the works.
Q: will TVW broadcast any pro, college sports, olympics?
A: We are currently working on a youth sports channel-stay tuned.
Suggestion: The Gerber Network
Q: As long as you want ideas for channels a "mothers" channel would be a great idea. Find a formula or womens product as an underwriter and they could market to a great demographic. New mothers are a vacuum for new information and products.
A: its underway. stay tuned for annoucments in women's/med towards May.
Statement: Great. That channel will be a huge success if you can get the word out.
A: Women/children are also the base demographic for Malta.
Q: My cat just jumped up on my lap--which reminds me to suggest an "Animal Psychologist Channel"--Animal lovers would flock to it---it could be fully interactive.
A: Ken, that's hot please note it.
Suggestion: your disaster channel is hurting alittle. Contact a local Fire Department and speak with their Training Officer for Ideas. The next wave in the Fire Service is NBC's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE
Q: what reactions have you had, if any, from folks in over the air broadcasting mediums?
A: Some get it . Some don't. Recently we had a famous national news reporter come to us with ideas because he sees the writing on the wall. The neilsens are just too ominous. Some will never admit it.
Q:Can you expound upo what kind of timframe you are working ubnder until we do see a noticable improvement in bandwidth, video quality and smoother viewing?
A: its happening everyday, depending on your geography. There's a reason Yahoo coughed up 5.7 billion for Broadcast.com. the bandwidth is arriving.
Q: So you see improvements happening on a regular basis and not making big leaps?
A: That is the nature of the intenet but the pace is accelerating exponentially.
OTHER QUESTIONS
Q: your openning this direct dialog is unique for CEO's Can the channel underwriter's chairman or director conduct these type of sessions for their members with video?
A: yes the underwrites have this caht service available to their CEO's on their channel.
Q: any comments on the new domain registrations TVontheWeb recently made? Also, is the Hotel Video Guide site presently under construction TVonthe Web's own or are you working for someone else and just going to handle the streaming video?
A: This question was not answered
Q: re the recent Trimark/Broadcast deal, some of the issues and obstacles there concerned licensing conflicts to be worked out. Your business model seems to avoid having to license content. Do you see obstacles in the future?
A: This question was not answered |
