ktoddstorch @ business thoughts

Being Digital

Getting stuck in the Atlanta airport for a few hours gives me some time to pay attention to my blog...

A lot of my thought process (and a lot of my client's) has to do with building a digital strategy.  What caught my attention was an article on Internet News entitled "Is There Money in MySpace?".

As most of you know, News Corp paid over $500M for MySpace and of course, they want to recoup their investment...fast.

Read this article and see the challenges they are facing with monetizing one of the fastest growing websites out there (as well as the largest memberships).  They are NOT intending on making back their money on selling banner ads...

As Tom Parish has been saying, 'it is a wonderful time to experiment'.  The tactics are very interesting and keep your eyes on the strategies, because they will continue to expand/contract/change.

[read]

The Long Tail

Over the weekend I picked up Chris Anderson's book, "The Long Tail".  I knew the book was coming out, because he has broken through and gotten "hit" status from the mainstream media (ironic!) with his economic theory.

I posted about his Wired article back in October of 2004 (along with a bunch of others!) right when my interest was very high about podcasting.

Expect to hear a lot more from the mainstream media about this "Tail".

Amazon link.

Thank You Peter Drucker!

"Concentration is the secret to all economic success"
                        - Peter Drucker

I read this quote today and it hit home.  Let me first say, that I have been feeling mighty guilty about my lack of blogging, but I do realize, that I have had to concentrate on my current priorities.

So, what have been the priorities?

First of all, a new job and career.  I've been on the road almost every day since May 11th (Tampa, FL, Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC, Atlanta, GA, Washington DC, Nashville/Knoxville, TN sor far).

We are also renovating the downstairs of our home.

Ok, the new job.  I have joined an amazing company call The Center for Sales Strategy (CSS). I am a Senior Consultant working mainly with TV stations, newspapers and radio stations.  My job primarily is to help organizations develop sales management, sales people and sales (read "About CSS").

I work from home and travel to my clients.  It is great to be officing out of my house and I've been on the road a ton meeting clients and learning from other consultants.  Bottom line, this is a perfect job for me.

All the while I've been traveling, the family has been "camping" in our own house.  We had to move out furniture from our downstairs in order to put in hardwoods, remodel the kitchen with granite counter tops, do a bunch of paint and just generally make a ton of dust and mess of the house.

Tara's been handling this chaos great while I've been out of town and we both know it will be great...when it's finished.

Thanks for sticking around and I'll be back to blogging.  I've just been concentrating...

 

Google Changes Everything for Radio

File this one under "why didn't I finish and post it"?  I saved this draft on 12/31/05 at 7:12am.

I'm sure you have to have heard about Google's acquisition of dMarc Broadcasting on 1/17/06.  I truly believe that this is just the start of even more changes in the broadcasting industry.  Be prepared for big, organizational and operational changes.  I purposely left the post unfinished so you could see where I left off...shame on me!

**original draft post below

I believe that Google is one of the biggest threats/opportunities to/for Radio.  Google is keen.  Google is local.  Google is global.  Google is omnipresent.

Ok, what the heck am I talking about?

Google can provide a way to:
1)  cut costs drastically
2)  market/advertise a station very inexpensively

There are many directions and thoughts that I can go on this post, but I'm going to limit it to just a few thoughts.  Let me start from #1 above.

Cut costs drastically
Now, this is a threat to those that work in radio (like me!), but a huge opportunity for a radio station and company.

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tags:  google | dMarc

Comcast On-Demand

We have Comcast Digital Cable at our house and I recently stumbled on the On-Demand features this weekend.

I've heard of On-Demand and even attended a conference presentation by a Comcast employee discussing the technology.  However, until Saturday, I had never used the product.

First of all, there is some great value propositions from On-Demand:

• free movies
• Premium movies (this is what they advertise the most.  "Use On-Demand instead of renting DVD's is the main message)
• guitar lessons (I really enjoyed checking these out!)
• kids shows
• Monty Python episodes!
• Sundance Channel movies and other independant films

I knew that you could pay for movies using On-Demand, but didn't realize the depth of "free" programming that was available.  Ryan, Taylor and I watched Jason and the Argonauts together, which made for some fun.

Comcast, how did you miss me?  I'm an early adopter that loves tech and gadgets and I stumbled upon you. 

Suggestion...offer up RSS feeds on programming choices and stop relying on "station promos" to describe your product.  I hardly ever watch live TV and I skip commercials using TiVo.

[link] to Comcast On-Demand

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tags:  comcast | tivo | on-demand

TiVo: Please Don't Break My Heart

I've seen a number of posts on the new TiVo operating system and the content restrictions it imposes (Engadget's here; BoingBoing's here).

Last night, TiVo downloaded the new system and I will be interested to see if any of the programs I save will be effected.

I've been using the TiVo ToGo feature infrequently, and I'm interested if the first time I want to use ToGo with the new OS, if the program will be restricted.

TiVo, many are saying you've screwed up a good thing.  I sure hope not.

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tags:  tivo | tivo togo | drm

Michael Tchong: "A Nation of Control-Freaks"

If you've been reading for the last few weeks, you have notice a number of references to Michael Tchong and the word Ubercool (read posts here and here).  The reason is simple:  he gets it.  Quick back-story:

I first met Michael at the CSS RDQ conference, where he was the keynote speaker.  He gave a great presentation centered around what he calls "Ubertrends" and he specifically spoke on Time Compression.  Quick summary:  most everything in our life is becoming time compressed (ie. TiVo, drive thrus, fast food, iPod, podcasting, etc.).

He started this section by saying "we are creating a nation of control freaks".  I have to agree.

You know I'm an early adopter, so here's a few things that I have going on due to my geekness:

• updating my iTunes based on new podcasts that I receive.  This causes me to set up a "1 Day Old" Playlist so I can classify the new podcasts and put the programs in specific categories (I don't use iTunes to capture podcasts; I still use iPodder because I like the way it handles the feeds and aggregates the programs directly into iTunes instead of through the "Podcast" application)
• updating my TiVo to capture the shows I want/need to watch (lets not forget that Tara is actively setting up stuff for her and the kids as well)
• keeping up with my Bloglines' feeds by deleting and adding new blogs/RSS feeds based on new recommendations or things that help or interest me and my job

The bottom line is that you end up having to be your own "program director".  It doesn't take much time to do this, but it is an activity that needs to crossed off the To Do list.  But, I guess this is what it takes to watch, listen and read what I want, when I want, instead of passively letting info drift to me, right?

Michael, you're right...I am a control freak.

[link] to Ubercool blog, Bringing Trends to Life

[listen] to a great podcast, hosted by Tom Parish, interviewing Michael Tchong

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tags:  ubercool | michael tchong | time compression | tom parish

Warning! Do Not Read...

the latest issue (Sept '05) of Wired magazine if you believe:

• television and its industry is right where it needs to be
• Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, is just a talking head comedian
• Yahoo! doesn't have a clue on how to compete against Google or Hollywood
• ESPN is just a TV network and group of radio stations
• no company in there right mind would custom make products for one person

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tags:  wired magazine | yahoo | espn

WIFM - The Favorite Station to Listen to and Watch

My media consumption habits over the last few months have really begun to change.  As a "radio guy", you know how much I've been watching, learning and playing in the podcasting and technology realm over the last year.

As I thought more about this, I realize that all of us are watching and listening to only one station:  WIFM.

You know, What's In it For Me.  I've used this acronym for years with my sales people, but it is really true now as personalization and  customized content is here to stay (a la TiVo, podcasting, iPods, etc.)

As a guy making his living in radio, my radio consumption is a bit skewed because when I'm listening to radio, it really is a work function.  I haven't really "just listened to radio to listen" for over a decade.

Just a quick review of my recent media consumption:

TV - I can't remember watching a "live" show.  Seriously, dang near never. 
Why?

• TiVo - when Tara and I do actually sit down to "watch TV", we are watching shows we decide to watch and when.  Same thing for our kids.  No longer are they plopped down to watch TV, they are watching shows that Tara has saved on TiVo (and they skip the commercials...)
• Internet - there is just more compelling content out there via the Internet and, I would rather blog or do something more productive than just "watch TV"
• Television shows on DVD - Tara and I got hooked on 24 this season, so now we are catching up in the "off season".  We have rented and watched both season 1 and 2 already and look forward to 3 and 4 before the new 5th season starts. 

Newspaper - I only subscribe to Sunday's paper and have so for years.  Why?  Tara loves to go through the coupons.  I have no need for the newspaper because I get my info from a number of newspaper's RSS feeds, Google News and the blogs I follow.

iPod/Podcasting - I love podcasts.  I have a number that I subscribe to and I will mainly listen while I'm running or while I'm doing work at home.  I listen to shows that have content that interests me.  Triathlon, technology, cycling, music, business issues, etc.  I would say that listening to podcasts has replaced listening to CD's for me.  No longer am I hitting shuffle on my iPod music collection to fill that time.  I am specifically listening to content that has relevance to me.

So, what does all of this mean?  It means that traditional media (ie, TV, radio and newspapers) need to find ways to continually become relevant.  Yes, there are more choices than ever for content, but this is different than "57 channels and nothin' on".  Now, consumers have the choice of what and when.

Having the choice of "when" is more powerful that just the choice of "what". 

So, we (consumers) are becoming program directors of our own station, WIFM.  What, and When is In it For Me?

What about You?!

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tags:  tivo | ipod | podcasting | personalization

TiVo To Go: Loving it!

One of the benefits of being home sick I had some time to figure out the codec situation for TiVoToGo.

My laptop runs on Windows Pro 2000, whereas my desktop runs XP.

There was a free codec for Pro 2000 that TiVo listed, so I got my laptop up and running.  I saved 2 shows (Chasing Lance) on my laptop and watched them before falling asleep early.

The only drawback is that it takes just longer than the actual show runs to save.  The one hour show I saved took about an hour and 15 minutes over my 802.11g home network.

Great use for those of you that travel.  Drop in your favorite shows and watch on the plane or your hotel room while on the road.

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tags:  tivo to go | chasing lance | sick day