[TOC Community] How Does Digital Affect Territorial Rights?

Mac Slocum
September 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Listen

Over on the TOC Community, David Henley poses interesting questions about rights and territories:

With the looming ebook and international POD availability, won't the traditional territorial rights market start to become shaky? Especially for publishers in countries like Australia whose main income comes from distributing US and UK owned content?

Related Stories:

• Join the TOC Community

Open Question: How Do You Use Web Video?

Mac Slocum
September 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Listen

Joost, a much-publicized video service, is overhauling its technology and adding social networking services in a bid to boost its user base. From MediaWeek:

At the center of the new social-centric Joost.com is JoostFeed, which much like Facebook's signature News Feed alerts users about what shows their friends are watching or have recently watched - hopefully stimulating more group viewing among Joost's users and more "I didn't know they had that show" moments.

Joost was originally released as a standalone application that required cumbersome download and installation, so the new Web-based version certainly offers a better user experience. But core technology has never been Joost's problem. The old software app and the new Web interface sport sleek interfaces and strong platforms, but the functionality doesn't overcome Joost's lack of interesting content.

Joost isn't alone. Every Web-based delivery platform is trying to find the right mix of content and technology. Since audience development is the ultimate measure of success in all of these video projects, I'm interested in hearing how the TOC Community interacts with online video:

Please share your thoughts in the comments area.

Related Stories:

• Report: Some Viewers Going Web-Only for TV Shows
• Study: Web Video Audience Stabilizes and Consumes More Streams
• Web Video Advertising Stuck on Pause
• Report: Pre-Roll Video Ads Not all that Bad
• Levels of Quality and Revenue Streams

Open Question: All-in-One Devices or Single Use E-Readers?

Mac Slocum
September 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (9) | Listen

Comparisons between the Kindle and the iPhone often touch on functional differences: the Kindle is a dedicated reading device with a few extra features; the iPhone is a bundled gadget that can serve as an e-reader.

The gap between single- and multi-use devices raises key questions about the future of e-readers and ebooks:

• When it comes to reading digital books, do consumers prefer a dedicated device or an all-in-one gadget?
• Is the market big enough to support both types of devices?

On the Print is Dead blog, Jeff Gomez says dedicated e-readers work well for book reading:

One thing that I don't mind about the Kindle is that it's an extra device. I used to think that I wanted an integrated device -- one thing that did everything -- and that I wouldn't want to carry around yet another device or gadget. But I actually like the fact that the Kindle is (more or less) just a device for the reading of content. Maybe this harkens back to the fact that every book is a destination; you get into bed and pick up a book because you want to read. You don't pick up a book to take pictures, record video or get your voicemail. So the fact that I don't use the Kindle to play solitaire is fine with me. True, that means I can't read something if I leave the house and have just my cell phone in my back pocket. But then again, a cell phone screen is too small, and most books are too big, so carrying a Kindle seems the right compromise.

Alison Flood from The Guardian casts a vote for bundled devices:

I'm waiting for an e-reader that bundles many uses into one: music player, phone, BlackBerry, internet, ebooks. That's what will really make the market take off. Of course they won't ever replace books, but then they're not meant to. It'll be something new and different and very exciting. Just don't drop it in the bath.

Which type of device do you prefer? Please share your thoughts in the comments area.

Related Stories:

• Print is Dead: "The Kindle Kronikles: Part 2. The Device"
• The Guardian: "They still haven't cracked the ebook"
• Open Question: Do You Read Books on a Cell Phone?
• Ergonomics and Ebook Success
• The Pitfalls of Publishing's E-Reader Guessing Game

Open Question: Do You Re-Read Books?

Mac Slocum
September 8, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (8) | Listen

Proponents on both sides of the ebook debate point to the archival/re-read nature of their chosen format, but I'm curious to see if re-reading is a common activity or one of those things we'd all like to do but can't find the time. Here's a few questions toward that end:

• Do you re-read books?
• If yes, how often? (i.e. You re-read 1-2 titles per year.)
• Which titles or genres do you re-read?
• Does a book's format -- print or digital -- make you more or less inclined to re-read a title?

Please share your thoughts in the comments area.