Media Content and Pay Walls

With the ongoing debate about paywalls and imminent introduction of one by Robert Maxwell, I thought I'd take a look at what content is currently available from some of the other large media outlets.

I'm looking at this purely from a sports viewpoint, as an example of what's available to you, the average internet user.

Now, I don't have Sky Sports, so if I want to keep track of what's been going on in the NFL, which I do, I have to use www.NFL.com. The NFL website shows full video highlights of every post-season game, and a decent number of highlights from the regular season. They also make available a weekly discussion show, that airs in the USA on the NFL network.

The NFL also sell some of these highlights to the BBC, who make them available as embedded content on their website. I'll come back to the BBC later.

I'm also a huge rugby fan, so not having access to Sky Sports is a huge blow, as they hold a near monopoly on Rugby in England. Fortunately BBC Wales broadcasts the Magners League and Welsh Premiership, which I can Sky Plus, and S4C does likewise, albeit in Welsh, so I do get a decent amount of coverage. Sky's website offers online video of post match reaction from the Guinness Premiership, and offers highlights to account holders, regardless of whether they are paid up subscribers to Sky Sports.

The BBC, naturally, is highly unlikely to erect a Pay Wall, as they have previously stated that their online arm is paid for by the Licence fee. The BBC offer extended highlights of the Six Nations, Formula One and Football league online, as well as making available content from smaller niche sports.

Ultimately it looks like Murdoch is underestimating the diligence of web users in searching for the content they desire, and underestimating the proliferation of such content.

An old 'un, but a good 'un

Three men: an editor, a photographer, and a journalist are covering a political convention in Miami. They decide to walk up and down the beach during their lunch hour. Halfway up the beach, they stumbled upon a lamp. As they rub the lamp a genie appears and says "Normally I would grant you three wishes, but since there are three of you, I will grant you each one wish."
The photographer went first. "I would like to spend the rest of my life living in a huge house in St. Thomas with no money worries." The genie granted him his wish and sent him on off to St. Thomas.

The journalist went next. "I would like to spend the rest of my life living on a huge yacht cruising the Mediterranean with no money worries." The genie granted him his wish and sent him off to the Mediterranean.

Last, but not least, it was the editor's turn. "And what would your wish be?" asked the genie.

"I want them both back after lunch" replied the editor, "the deadline for tomorrow's newspaper is in about ten hours.


Sounds about right doesn't it?

Journalistic Wisdom

Pull quotes are like condoms. You only need one.