Entries categorized as ‘Editorial’
SciFi rebrands to Syfy, really???
When millions of eyeballs are on the line it usually takes a pretty hefty budget to make sure you keep them. You better come up with something cool. When you’re messing with a brand that’s beloved with cult-like obsession, you better do something really special… unless (gasp!) you’re not worried about the core that’s gotten you here.
Now, admittedly, I was “on the fence” when I heard SciFi was re-branding to Syfy and still can’t imagine being in that meeting!
Check out the whole slew of creative posted at ProudCreative.com, the agency behind the work.
When I caught The Dirty Blog article revealing the creative behind Syfy’s new campaign I couldn’t help but check it out and it’s very cool! It’s cool enough to cut through the clutter and probably “wow” enough to be memorable but, on the surface, it just doesn’t seem to have that special something to win hearts and minds. At least not those of super sci-fi fan club realm.
An overhaul, not an evolution. At a glance it seems that Syfy is shooting for even bigger audiences than it’s geeky core can give while probably assuming the core will hang in there regardless. The work that’s posted is pretty impressive. There is, however, one odd ID that caught my eye because it looks like they just couldn’t get a purple plasma-like build of the Syfy logo to work.
Can Syfy keep the geeky? I just happened to check Twitter and couldn”t believe it, Syfy was trending! Scanning the tweets you realize pretty quickly that sci-fi fan’s are not impressed with the new look, check out a cross section of Scifi vs Syfy tweets at here > Scifi vs Syfy: Twitter Attacks . If you look even closer perhaps you’ll see the opportunity I saw to give that core audience their own online community. While the uproar is pretty much hatred for change, there’s still a love for the content in spite of Wrestling (as many comments show) and a large geeky audience to drive over to a new online resource for the “SciFi” crowd. So the question is, will Syfy step up and keep the geeky? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! What about you? Love it or hate it? Please comment!
My tweet went something like this when I heard about the change:
richardbouchez:
Scifi changing SYFY, this is either ridiculous or genius! Glad I wasn’t in that meeting!
-Richard
Contact / follow:
Categories: ...to check out · Editorial · Killer Creative
Tagged: brand, cable, killer creative from Syfy, proudcreative, proudcreative.com, really syfy, rebranding scifi, ridicoulous, scifi, scifi to syfy, scifi tv, scifi versus syfy, scifi vs syfy, scify, scify rebranding, syfy, syfy cool creative, syfy televsion, syfy tv, television, the Scifi Refy, tv, wacky rebranding, www.proudcreative.com
*updated 2/10/09
2 weeks after suggesting radio should look to podcasting for growth and newspaper may be able to reinvent itself through new technology (Local TV’s not Dead, it’s Moving to a Gated Community) an interesting post by@Andrew303, on my twitter feed, caught my eye:
Not that it’s anything we think the New York Times Company should do, but we thought it was worth pointing out that it would cost the Times about half as much money to send every single one of its subscribers a brand new Amazon Kindle instead of a physical newspaper each day. more…
So that got me thinking about the media futurists I read who have counted out the possibility of newspapers successfully monetizing the web. Perhaps digital paper is too far off to be a feasible new way to read the “paper” but is it too far fetched to say that a new technology could save them? Perhaps a new Kindle or some larger “e-book” friendlier version of the iPhone? *Michelle Machmanus, of OHL, pointed out via a Linkedin discussion there is new thinner & lighter tech on the way like a fascinating e-book reader from PlasticLogic.com.
Certainly newspapers will have to create a new business model shedding expensive presses and delivery staff regardless, but what if major newspapers got in bed with tech companies much like the Apple & At&T deal? Right now devices like the Kindle are extremely expensive for average consumers who don’t travel much and they compete with lower priced gadgets like cell phones. Could a subscription model emerge that would subsidize the cost of a Kindle (for example) enough to convince the consumer to purchase a Kindle and a NY Times subscription? Do Randomhouse and other book publishers need to get on board to create an Itunes version for newspapers and books?
Through my own experience working in media, I believe the newspaper industries biggest challenge is cultural not technological. Maybe it won’t be a newspaper investing in new tech, maybe an “Amazon.com” will purchase a newspaper’s identity, hire a slew of unemployed writers, editors & photographers, deploy them across the across the country and create a new generation of Kindle News.
What? It could happen:-)
Unfortunately I have not used a Kindle prior to writing this and don’t know how the user experience of reading a newspaper on one would rate. I do have an ipod Touch and find that reading e-magazines on it is do-able, although not ideal. If you have a Kindle or some insight as to what it would take to make the leap from paper to e-gadget, please weigh-in below in the comments and let me know if you would subscribe to national / local news sites if they gave you a discounted Kindle or iPhone.
-Richard
Contact / follow:
Categories: Editorial · Future Media
Tagged: 2, amazon, amazon.com, bouchez, digital paper, ebooks, future, Future Media, future of newspaper, iphone, kindle, kindle2, new kindle, new york times, newspaper, NY times, NYT, plastic logic, tech versus media, the times
January 13, 2009 · 1 Comment
…where antennas are torn down, all its stuff is being hacked up into little pieces, rebuilt, re-evaluated, repackaged, re-purposed or thrown away. Oh, Radio and Newspaper live next door.
Much like other bow-tie managed entities, years (decades) of excessive profits have created an industry wide comfort zone where many execs have come and gone, cashing in/out along the way. Of course those days are at an end with Main Stream Media (MSM) companies taking a severe public beating. With hundreds of job cuts at NBC and other companies, Tribune’s bankruptcy, the end of PC Mag’s “-azine” and the constant whine of revenue loss from newspapers, those left rowing the boat are being punished for those who have rowed before.
Perhaps broadcast deserve a little break though; after all they’ve been distracted by micro evolutions within their own space such as time shifting programs, Sony gear versus Panasonic, increased competition from newspapers, retransmission battles with cable, syndication issues, revenue swings from politics, etc. Then again, if you’re driving on the highway and distracted by a swarm of wasps inside your car, you’re still responsible for knowing that up ahead the bridge is out.
So as many philosophize the death of television, I wonder about a shift of massive proportions affecting multiple industries including radio, television and print collectively. Technology isn’t just killing television, it’s changing the way we communicate leaving the entire Main Stream Media up for grabs.
TV: The bigger picture shows no breaks for media content providers
So, yes traditional television will die in its current packaging only to be reborn in other forms. Early versions hint that content may be split up by numerous new media providers like www.Hulu.com, Revision3 and others, but even as network parents try to maintain control and contain content Hulu struggles as “traditional media” repackaged in a shiny “new media” graphics. A blog, shortened commercial breaks and a widget don’t constitute a new business model. Regardless, it seems that technology from Boxee will continue the assault on media content providers by reconnecting users to content and thereby threatening to make brands irrelevant. Much like the way Google has made information brands (Webster, Wikipedia, etc.) irrelevant to the masses. After all, who cares / remembers the brand when relevant information from all brands it presented to you equally and immediately via search?
RADIO: Say NO to internet radio and yes to podcasting.
Due to its ease of use and the lack of public adoption of satellite & WIFI in vehicles and in the workplace (WIFI would deliver internet radio) it seems radio will outlive both traditional TV and newspapers. It also occurred to me that radio has the best advantage for “doubling down” on both their current analog business model and creating new online revenue streams. While TV & Print may have more money / audience behind them, staffs at radio stations are more nimble with less capital invested in equipment like printing presses and satellite trucks. Radio companies with diversified portfolios also have the attention of the tech savvy youth and vast audiences of local, high school & college sports within reach and ready to be converted to the next stats heavy online community. The real opportunity, however, is in the podcast race. With a clear advantage, as an industry, radio stations could surely take their fondness for formatting to an even deeper “niche” level and cash in big. NPR and others would have an even bigger advantage if they were to launch a massive information assault on the current community of podcasters and audio book creators.
NEWSPAPER: Don’t Go Changin’?
Of the MSMs there may be good reason for newspaper to not evolve. In fact there’s a very real possibility that some newspapers may find themselves rebuilding traditional staffs in the not so distant future! With the tension mounting by the Kindle and iPhone ebook apps, the newspaper industry finding a new home in the digital world on mobile devices in e-zine form. What would truly be mind blowing is if the newspaper industry could create its own tech revolution in “digital paper.”
So what’s the point? The point is that all of this is transitional and that the better able you are to adapt the more likely you are to survive. Survival will not come from your next show, tonight’s ratings or this weekend’s paper sales but from investing in new products, technology and actually listening to customers because the comfort zone is lost.
-Richard
Contact / follow
For great media discussions I highly recommend:
Check out these clever Twitter inspired designs!
Categories: Editorial · Future Media
Tagged: audio, bouchez, boxee, broadcast, ebooks, future media brands, future of media, future of newspaper, future of radio, hulu, hulu.com, internet radio, iphone ebooks, mass communications, mass communications revolution, media brands, media trends, newspaper, online video, opportunities for radio, podcast, podcast networks, podcasting, print, radio, revision 3, revision3, revision3 revision 3 podcast network bouchez digg diggn, tech versus media, tech vs media, television, video
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: big ad ideas, brainstorming great ads, concept, concept ads how to, copy writing tips, create super ads, creating web videos, creative ads, get wildly creative, high concept, new media marketing, shooting web video tips, super creative ad how to, where to start ad creation
Categories: Editorial · How to...
Tagged: add how to, cheap and effective web content, create cheap and effective web content, create how to videos, demonstrational videos, make your webpage engage, making small business videos, new media tips, new small biz marketing tips, shooting web video tips, small business videos, tips and how to for small business marketing, web demonstrations, web how to, website video projects
If you’re looking for a Flip Video Video Mino, or any video camera, there are a couple of quick things you need to know before swiping your credit card!
iJustine with Flip Video Mino from Flickr
If you have no interest in video or audio quality and you just want a video camera you can throw in your pocket… stop here and go get yourself (or your kids) a Flip Video Mino.
Otherwise, please read on…
While the Flip Video Mino is gaining a lot of popularity due to contesting, a personalization option, a promised “ease of use” and a low price you may be sorely disappointed when you find out you could have gotten much better video quality for only a couple bucks more.
With ten years of broadcast television experience and recent projects working extensively with (& training) consumers to use basic video cameras I recommend the JVC Everio series (or similiar). Although they are not “pocket sized” they aren’t too bulky either and they are affordable, under 300 at Amazon, for example, depending on options. I’ve found these cameras a high a quality for consumer cameras and “plug and play” for video new comers which is well worth another hundred bucks in the long run.
So, really I’m just suggesting you look at video cameras that will give you better quality video you will appreciate later as well as a couple more options that will let you grow to add a light or external mic if you choose.
1 note that holds true for most consumer video cameras: Throw out the software that comes with it and use something else.
Good luck!
-Richard
click to share
You may also be interested in:
Please visit my website for Small Biz: http://www.InovediaMarketing.com
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: cheap video cameras, consumer video cameras, flip video mino, quick advice on video camera, vide camera need to knows, video camera advice, video camera gifts, web video camera, which video camera to give
Just thought I would take this opportunity to mark the end of www.InovediaMarketing.com’s first month online. The mission has not changed, engaging “New Marketing” ideas for small business, and with virtually no promotion we’ve gotten hundreds of hits accompanied by very nice feedback from marketers, media and small business owners. Our traffic is steadily growing and we’ve even gotten a couple inquiries about advertising.
Now officially marks the beginning of our search for sponsors and contributors, please let me know if you’d like to advertise or if you have any ideas on where we can start looking for sponsors!
Here’s a look at what we’ve posted so far on www.InovediaMarketing.com:
Today’s post: Cheap & Easy Web Videos You Can Do Too!
From “How to” to “Viral Videos” you’ll find examples that can be shot “on the cheap” with little gear, no professional help and still manage to effectively get the point across. more…
Please help us by forwarding our posts to anyone who may be interested and thanks for any feedback you may have to offer!
-Richard
follow me on twitter @richardbouchez
Categories: Editorial · New Media / Marketing / Small Businesses · Tips for Small Business
Tagged: web video for small biz
Please check out my newest post on www.InovediaMarketing.com “Blogs to Facebook, Where Your Biz Should Be and How to Start.” Next post will be “Make Your Small Biz Homepage Engage” which will post next Monday, December 1st, at 9am.
-Richard
Right Now Inovdea Marketing:
Categories: Editorial
“6 Random Rules for Owning a Website” has moved to InovediaMarketing.com! This is an effort to create a more comprehensive marketing resource for small businesses and improve this site’s continuity. This link will take you to the “6 Rules for Owning a Website.”
With a mission to empower small businesses to be more engaging, creative and unique, I hope this new website becomes your go-to resource for “New Marketing” ideas and information. Thank you for your understanding and any feedback emailed to Richard @ RABpromo dot com.
-Richard
Categories: Editorial · New Media / Marketing / Small Businesses · Tips for Small Business
Tagged: small business websites, Tips for Small Business, rules for protecting your website, 6 things to do for your website, website musts, rules for websites, website marketing, getting a domain, owning a domain, getting a website, owning a website, hosting accounts, protect your small business website, tips for small business websites, warnings about web hosting, protect your site
