Comments on: The NYT’s Metering Plan Doesn’t Go Far Enough—Here’s The Rest Of The Solution http://digitalquarters.net/2010/02/nyt-metering-plan-not-far-enough/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nyt-metering-plan-not-far-enough Wetpaint CEO Ben Elowitz on the Future of Digital Media Thu, 17 May 2012 07:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Donald McMichael http://digitalquarters.net/2010/02/nyt-metering-plan-not-far-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Donald McMichael Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:22:04 +0000 http://digitalquarters.net/?p=184#comment-31 I find your analysis of the rationale behind the NYT’s freemium business model to be right on point. The reasoning, especially when viewed in context of today’s popular belief that people are more inclined to peruse, speed read - or as Mitch Joel stated in a recent post - graze makes a tremendous amount of sense. If you look at user habits in aggregate the trend indicates that people spend less time on ‘longer’ format material. In the filmed content world, primarily cable networks, one can readily quantify people’s appreciation of top flight content. It is demonstrated in their willingness to invest both their time and money. While at the same time tolerance for the lesser quality (B and C) content has fallen off a cliff. So, you are right on point in stating that the NYT needs to continue to push out great content and package it (or not) so that individuals can easily curate the material. All of this is a in your face wake-up call and I do believe that it has been heard. However, with a strong external force calling for the protection of the bottom-line from one quarter to another stopping the train is out of the question. Call up the old sidecar mechanics, we have some work to do. I find your analysis of the rationale behind the NYT’s freemium business model to be right on point. The reasoning, especially when viewed in context of today’s popular belief that people are more inclined to peruse, speed read – or as Mitch Joel stated in a recent post – graze makes a tremendous amount of sense. If you look at user habits in aggregate the trend indicates that people spend less time on ‘longer’ format material. In the filmed content world, primarily cable networks, one can readily quantify people’s appreciation of top flight content. It is demonstrated in their willingness to invest both their time and money. While at the same time tolerance for the lesser quality (B and C) content has fallen off a cliff. So, you are right on point in stating that the NYT needs to continue to push out great content and package it (or not) so that individuals can easily curate the material.

All of this is a in your face wake-up call and I do believe that it has been heard. However, with a strong external force calling for the protection of the bottom-line from one quarter to another stopping the train is out of the question. Call up the old sidecar mechanics, we have some work to do.

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