That Sucking Sound: The Disappearing Newspaper

A few decades ago, most major cities had at least two major newspapers and many of them had morning and evening delivery. Today, newspapers are undergoing rapid decline and, for most of them, their futures are either digital or they will have no future at all. Those newspapers that will survive, will be free. Newspapers with a community focus that discusses the local boy or girl who has graduated from school or served the country with honor in the military and ones with a lifestyle or classified focus (jobs, homes, etc.) that are free will continue to continue to survive and maybe even thrive. The paid ones will quickly become history.

In the last few months we have seen the Rocky Mountain News fold in Denver, Colorado, the curtailing of days of delivery for the Detroit Free Press, and the move from a daily Christian Science Monitor to a weekly edition. This decline of newspapers is attributed to several factors:

The Internet has made the majority of content free. One of the strange answers by the industry, to the newspaper crises, is to raise the price on newspapers. This has only chased customers away to the vast array of sources available at not cost to the reader. The only newspapers that charge and may survive will have to fulfill a very specific function. The jury is out on that.

Information spreads best in a viral way, which lends very well to the Internet, but not newspapers. For years I use to clip articles, some times make copies to send to others, but usually lost them and tried to remember what the article I loved so much actually said. With the Internet, people can easily spread the word about the great article they have seen, pass it via email, and make the source a household name. With the Internet, organizing information is a breeze and it stands as far superior to the old methodology.

Archiving for future reference is very easy. I wanted to find out if the Internet is better than newspapers, so I did a Google search and I received millions of links. Remember going to the library, looking through periodical indices, and thumbing through countless newspapers or magazines to find an article? The Internet has changed all of that.

Many want to attribute the decline to the ideology that is pervasive among newspapers today. The liberal bias in newspapers is obvious and I think it is clear that this has hurt the credibility of the media in general. On TV, Fox News (which is described by the left as conservative, but in my opinion, strives for some level of objectivity) has more viewers than MSNBC and CNN combined. I believe this is attributable to the liberal bent among Fox News competitors.

In spite of these realities, if paid newspapers had Glenn Beck types as their publishers, they would still be in decline because that form of print news would still be in decline. The Internet (and the rise of smart phones that brings Web information everywhere) is just a far superior technology. Conservatives need to stop merely complaining about the newspapers and their liberal bias and take advantage of the new battlefield which is online. Currently, the left is dominating the blogosphere. It is still relatively early in the game, but conservatives need to shelve their pass loses and focus on the future that is the Internet.

This article originally appeared at CNN650.com, part of the CBS Radio Network.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on CNN 650 (M-F at 11 am). Eric Bolling of Fox News and Fox Business and says that Price’s Blog “is very influential and moves the blogosphere.” Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com.

HOLLYWOOD RAGS FIND ECONOMY A DRAG!

I remember the old black and white movies and the Variety newspaper headlines they would show about the celebrity character in the film. They were big (usually all caps) and often highlighted with an exclamation point. With that, I couldn't resist giving homage to this old style when I learned recently that some of the movie industries biggest newspapers are facing serious troubles.

Mediabistro notes that "for more than 75 years, Daily Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have battled to be the movie industry's top newspaper, but recent layoffs due to the recession and competition from Internet blogs has Hollywood wondering if it will soon become a one paper town."

Advertising revenues are plummeting, even during the Oscars season where it is very common for the movie studios to spend big money on full page ads to get their films the recognition they believe is deserved. There are few things more powerful than an Oscar to get people into the movies. The public relations value is without compare. Furthermore, although Variety and the Reporter are expensive to buy ad space, they are less expensive than ads in publications that have larger audience. So with those ads movie makers can hit their target constituents hard to get the statue, but this year they are not doing it.

Don't worry though, the studios are still promoting their films, but they are using bloggers and other online media rather than spending big budgets on forms of promotion that often solicits skepticism rather than interest. Here are a few factors working against the Hollywood newspapers:

• People are more influenced by the opinions of others than they are ads. Ads are insincere, "you mean they think you should watch their movie?" This is not a surprise and the movie makers are becoming aware of this reality.


• The Hollywood set are more technically savvy than the larger population. These people are less likely to wait for a newspaper or look for one when they know the absolute latest information is on their laptop or mobile. News is about currency and that is exactly what print newspapers lack. The suffering that is rampant among old media in general is even greater in Hollywood news.


• Although Hollywood fairs better than other industries in times of recession, everyone including tinsel town is operating with far more caution.

Increasingly print media is simply losing its relevance. People want what they want, when they want it. This does not bode well for print media, no matter the industry.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Jett Travolta's Death Says Something About News Authority

I was surfing around the Web today while watching football games and I stumbled on a notice that John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett died today while they were vacationing in the Bahamas. I wasn't particularly familiar with the site and so I immediately went to look for more information. After all, as a person who was a teenager in the 1970s, I was as big a John Travolta fan. Also, Jett's news was tragic regardless of what you thought of his acting parents. Soon I found TMZ reporting this and I knew that site had more credibility than most entertainment news sources, but this young man was only 16 and the source was still "entertainment news." I was looking for a more reliable source.

Soon I began to find it in more traditional sources and learned that young Jett often suffered seizures and John Travolta had been quoted saying "we almost lost him" in a TV interview a few years ago. However, the cause of death was conflicting. Some sources said he injured himself in a bathtub, while others said it was a seizure. I assume it will be concluded that if a head injury was involved, it started with a seizure.

It took a few"clicks" before I found a page that I considered authoritative and it made me think about the way people perceive web sources. In spite of the rise of blogs -- there are over 133 million of them on the Internet -- I believe people still want to get their news from traditional sources. The more traditional, the better, it appears. I didn't fully embrace the validity of the story until I read it in Reuters (showing my bias for business news I assume).

As someone who writes four or five posts a week, I find this a little disconcerting. Although it is true that some blogs carry more authority than others and this one is written by someone with twenty plus years experience in journalism, it is still a blog. When I did my search based on authority, I instantly dismissed articles that were blog sources.

There are reasons why there are 133 million plus blogs on the Internet today and it isn't because people have nothing better to do than write them (well, not all of them at least). I know many read mine, as I find quotes by me on other blogs and news articles and I get emails and calls from others about my posts. But the gap between traditional and new media remains obvious.

Note: I hate for my analysis to distract from the tragedy of the passing of a teenager who is far too young to die. However, I will leave stories about him to those who are more eloquent than myself to write such. I leave it to those who know him and the family far better than I do. As a father, I find this story particularly tragic and send my sympathies.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Detroit Newspaper Has Sad Event

Increasingly, the idea of going out in your front yard to get a newspaper in a plastic bag that is littering, is outdated before it hits the grass, and you paid for, seems ridiculous. It appears I am not alone as circulation for such publications are decreasing dramatically and advertising revenues shrink. The only ones who seem to be slow at "getting it" are the newspapers themselves. That finally seems to be changing.

I grew up in Michigan at a time in which some of my neighbors received the Detroit Free Press daily, while others got the Detroit News. Some even had the morning or evening edition. My father liked the Free Press in the evening. We even received the Daily Tribune which focused on Oakland County. Now the only real player in Detroit newspaper news is the Free Press (they have had a marketing agreement with the Detroit News for around two decades) and it made an announcement that would have been unheard of a decade ago, but seems long over due today.

Paul Anger, Editor of the Detroit Free Press wrote:

"The newspaper industry can identify with the American auto industry -- we have important products and similar emergencies that demand bold, immediate action. The transformation announced Tuesday by the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit Media Partnership is such an action, unique in the country. Some newspapers have reacted to crushing business realities by not publishing on certain days, or drastically slashing their news-gathering staffs, or exploring outsourcing of local reporting and editing jobs overseas -- or all of the above. The Free Press chooses a path not traveled."

With that eloquent introduction I expected something really big. Anger, unfortunately, disappoints. Their description of the up coming changes are filled with hyperbole, but not much substance and certainly not the paradigm shift that is necessary for tackling the onslaught being brought on by the Internet. Even as Anger details the heart of the changes, it is done in the context of inevitable defeat, stating "we do not make these moves lightly. We know that delivering the Free Press to homes three days a week -- Thursday, Friday and Sunday -- instead of seven will disrupt many breakfast-table routines. Fact is, though, those routines have already changed as many people tune in to the news by laptop or cell phone." In sum, since your not missing the newspaper, why deliver it seven days a week? The likely retort to this is, if that's the case, why deliver it at all?

The new Free Press encourages you to take action, pointing out that they are "offering a digital subscription to the Free Press that combines both worlds -- a way to go online and see the newspaper pages, including ads, exactly as they appear in print. You can sign up at freep.com." Unfortunately, the new Free Press -- like the old -- is anything but free. Unlimited monthly access is $12.50 a month. Unfortunately, that goes against the prevailing trend that has made the Internet so popular. People don't want to pay for such content and because of competition, typically don't have to.

Following these few details, Anger serves up a great deal of information on the research that went into the decision. This includes surveys, consultants, and other methodologies to assure us that this decision is in all of our best interest. In the end, Anger's well written document makes one conclude that the writing is already written on the wall for traditional media. The Free Press' current efforts are only trying to slow down the ink from drying.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

When the Internet Acts Like TV

The convergence of media -- TV, radio, Internet, and print -- is one of my favorite subjects. It isfascinating to see how the various media compliment each other and how the lines between each of them continue to become more blurry. For quite some time the move has been towards making the Internet "more legitimate." In the history of the World Wide Web, sites have evolved from print, slowly added audio, and now has video. The "on demand" power of the Internet makes it the rising star of all media.

How great the influence of the Internet was recently demonstrated when I was watching my TV and turned the channel to CNN. As I watched the network a "button" popped up that reminded me of something you would see online. The blue image on the screen said "Press Select for CNN Enhance." Of course, I quickly succumbed to temptation.


I hit select and a minute or so later (it seemed rather slow), my TV became even more like the Internet. It is interesting that media sees a web page as a more "enhanced" media than a television set. So much for its self-esteem. The site (I am not sure what else to call it) has CNN wallpaper in the background, the CNN logo in the corner, video on another top corner, images lined across the bottom that reflect a category you are on that goes from top to bottom. You can see the top stories, review US and world news, get the latest in business content, find out about technology and science, and more. As you hit these major categories, you find images of numerous subcategories, and when you hit them you find multi-page articles.


To get you more involved in the CNN experience, you can see how people are voting today on a policy issue under "Quick Vote." In order to participate, you are encouraged to go to CNN.com to state your opinion.


I view the enhanced features of CNN to be a significant win for the Internet and only further demonstrates how that media continues to grow. I have been to websites who offer the type of features on CNN Enhanced and it begs the question, do we actually need TV? Only time will answer that question.





Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Recovering from Ike

It would be nice to say that this storm is behind us, but its impact will be with us for weeks or months to come. It is the most devastating storm that I have ever seen and its implications are far worse than I have ever experienced (Allison pounded me personally and was horrible for many, but won’t touch the impact of Ike).

Ike is strange. On Saturday I enjoyed the Internet and had water pressure. Now I am boiling water and using almost any means necessary to get information online. A day after writing this post I have full water pressure and the Internet. It is all very interesting. It is clearly a situation of two steps forward, one step back. This creates a sense of vulnerability that I had not felt just on Saturday. You want to feel as though you are only making progress. Storms such as this are not always so accommodating.

We were very fortunate in that we lived just a block or so from a hospital. Our neighborhood was a priority and we are not enjoying power. Most of my friends are without power and have no idea when it will return. Oddly, I actually feel a little guilt. Don’t worry, I will get over it, but it is life after a hurricane.

The long term economic implications are going to be significant. Everyone whose business is Houston has customers at various levels of stability. We are better off than most, but we are only as well off as our weakest clients. We are going to be limping along like our customers.

I have lived in the Houston area since 1990. Since that time the benchmark of a major Hurricane had always been Elisha from the early 1980s. Now people say it is the biggest one since Carla (from the early 1960s), which means Ike will become the most common benchmark. When people in the Houston area talk about “the big one,” it will be Hurricane Ike.

Kevin Price articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Screen People Will Watch in the Future is in Your Pocket

The "first screen" we have known and loved for decades has been the television. In recent years our passions have turned to our laptop and PC screen, but the screen of the future is going to have us squinting. At least those my age.

At a recent convention in San Francisco reported in CNET, Marketers discussed the various vehicles they are using to reach today's teens. The overwhelming vehicle choice is the mobile device. What does the future hold for mobile communications? "Mobile phones in the United States will surpass the popularity of desktops for teens. Only an estimated 20 percent of teens currently own a smartphone such as the iPhone, but mobile phone and content companies are counting on the idea that smartphone adoption will spread fast among teens in middle America and other areas."

In the future, there will be more and more ads being sent to mobile devices. This is because they can target the audicence better by interest, age, gender, and geography. Furthermore, text ads get noticed in a way web ads and (in particular) email spam never enjoys.

One definite piece of good news for fans of traditional media is that these devices will actually bolster the health of television, not undermine it. Devices will be able to use more video (20 percent of all young people already have smart telephones such as the iPhone, as stated above) and ads that would normally be on TV will also show up on the small screen.

The future of media looks very interesting and very small.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Major Magzine Firm Takes Big Hit

Print publications have taken a pounding in recent years when it comes to advertising revenue. Magazines have largely limped along and newspapers have been pushed to the point of obliteration. Print continues to largely be a victim to the far reaching power of the Internet.

The situation is getting words, according to Mediabistro, which reports "Conde Nast Publications, which last year managed to soar above the general industry malaise by posting a 5.41 percent jump in ad pages, is slumping in the first half of 2008. The three big titles -- Vogue, Glamour, and Vanity Fair -- are all flat to down in the first half, according to Media Industry Newsletter, and the outlook is dim for a second half recovery to bail them out."

Conde Nast has had a reputation as an innovator in the publication industry for years. Since they own numerous titles, all very complimentary and lifestyle oriented, the magazine would introduce subscribers to one publication to complimentary copies of other magazines, or 2 for 1 offers, and other methods to increase readership and advertising revenues. It appeared to be working very well, an exception in a magazine world that was in revenue decline. In 2008, it doesn't seem to be working any longer.

I believe this is happening for several reasons. The web continues to drive readers away from print. There is simply too much quality available "free" and online that it is difficult to get people to buy publications. I have even found myself allowing subscriptions to publications I have long loved lapse because of the Internet. Furthermore, instead of actually increasing advertising revenues, recession talk is beginning to hurt advertising and marketing in general. There was a belief that, with the economy weakening, people would have to work harder to get clients. In the short run it appears that businesses are doing such with fewer dollars being spent. I am sure this too will change.

I'm a huge magazine fan. It is the one form of traditional media that I thought would continue to have legs. However, it appears the future of all traditional media hangs in the balance.

Want to learn more about the twin economic tsunamis of Social Security and Medicare? Get a free audio program featuring Rick Ray of the Wealth Design Group and Kevin Price on this important subject by sending an email to Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Denny's Gets Tough with Competition

Recently I had breakfast with a business associate at Denny's and found it a very interesting experience. When I walked in the store I saw signs comparing Denny's to the competition. How they offered "real food" versus the wimpy breakfast meals of the competition. In fact, you begin to get the impression that eating breakfast anywhere else but Denny's means you are either stupid, or you like wimpy food.

This emphasis doesn't end at the locations. I visited Dennys.com and noticed the slogan for the company and seen often in the site is "Real Breakfast 24/7." They are definitely putting other restaurants on notice.

This message is also seen in their new TV commercials, which they display with pride at Denny's website. The "heroes" in these commercials -- those demanding their Denny's breakfast -- are not particularly endearing or attractive (typically the best actors for such spots), but they are tough. They want their Denny's and they want it now.

I don't know if these ads are successful or not, but they are being noticed. In an environment with so many commercials that are easy to ignore, this is certainly saying something.

For a copy of the free audio program and free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The American Magazine: Excellent Reading

One of the great things about the Internet is the huge volume of information that is available in virtually every area under the sun. It is also one of the biggest problems with the Internet, creating a massive recycling of content and quite difficult to find anything remotely original.

With that, I was thrilled to stumble on the new American Magazine. The writing is sharp and concise and (more importantly) the thought is very original. It doesn't bore you by acting smart (long and laborious), but by being smart in the way it approaches problems and polices.

One of my favorite sections of the magazine is "The American Scene," which provides windows of what is going on in the economy. Recent articles included:

* The Venti Effect. This article examines the positive impact that Starbucks Coffee has had on smaller competitors. Who would have guessed that a big chain like Starbucks would do the necessary market research to tell smaller competitors where to place stores? Because of Starbucks pricing model, this smaller stores can typically compete quite well when it comes to pricing. This is a very contrarian view of large businesses.

* The Myth of Offshoring Pollution. Extreme environmentalists are continually arguing that the sky is falling, and if there has been any reduction in pollution in the US it is because the manufacturing jobs have been exported. A telling article from the American points out that in areas where there have been higher manufacturing production in this country, there has been a decrease in polution. What is the real cause of reduction? New technology.

* In Ease of Paying Taxes, We're #76. We hear many platitudes about the great free enterprise system in the United States. There is no doubt about it, the US is wildly successful by world standards, but a recent report from PriceWaterhouse and reviewed by the American shows that we are ranked 76 in terms of ease of payment of taxes. We are successful in spite of our system and not because of it.

There are other great articles through out the magazine and it will certainly become "must reading" in preparing for my radio show and writing in this blog. On its excellent website you will also find great audio programs with some of the finest minds in business, politics, and culture today, like this interview with author Tyler Cowen (author of Markets and Cultural Voices).

I suggest spending time with American today.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Welcome to Hulu!

Virtually every day I see another story about the media lines blurring. TV on the web. The web on TV. Radio everywhere. It is an incredibly exciting time to monitor media today. The latest addition to this change is a website called Hulu. I heard about it on the Today Show (and Hulu was created by its parent company, GE and News Corp, what a surprise).

Don't be fooled by the name, it has nothing to do with Hawaii or dancing (oh, that's hula), but it has a great deal to do about how people will get entertained. The site is a huge TV and movie treasure chest with full episodes of shows you typically can't find on TV. This includes Time Tunnel, Welcome Back Kotter, Dragnet, and more. I think I might be spending some time on it. The movie section is not nearly as interesting and is largely dominated by "B" flicks. However, on a slow TV night, some will watch them.

Many -- if not most -- of the the TV episodes and Movies are in their entirety, although there are also numerous clips. My gut tells me few will go for the clips because they can find much more at YouTube and Google video, but I do believe the site will be a hit. It is, again, one more example of how media is changing forever.

The site will be a work in progress and starting with a strange name like "Hulu" will do nothing to attract traffic in my opinion. But I think this site will likely be another benchmark in the move away from traditional media.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Does Your Marketing Work?

Most businesses have marketing today that, simply, doesn't work. There has been a massive paradigm shift in the world of business and most have been lost by viewing the symptoms of it (e.g., the dramatic rise of the Internet), but are largely unaware of the larger issues that are going to devastate businesses if they fail to be aware of those trends.

* There is a reason why businesses are placing their brand in actual programs (e.g., "The Old Spice Half Time Report)

* There is a reason why major media is moving their programming online and are desperately trying to get you to see the adds before you see the programs

* Businesses are buying air time on the radio and TV and are not merely "slicing, dicing, or chopping", but actually providing valuable information to become life long clients

* They are not limiting themselves to one or two outlets of information, but are taking a complete multimedia approach to reach potential audiences

The bottom line is that today's consumers are more savvy and cynical than in any time in media history. They are savvy and no longer do people merely wait for the answer when watching a TV show that tries to keep them on with a trivia question. Instead, most find it during the commercial break and often don't come back to the show because they are lost in another web search. They are cynical, because they know when they are being sold in the messages they see and hear and many are no longer standing (or sitting) for it.

Marketing has changed people in business dramatically and the savvy (and even cynical) marketer is going to know how to respond to that challenge. It begins by thinking like the very people they are trying to reach.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Lines Between Media Blur

Gary Coleman, the once popular child star from the show "Different Strokes" has largely been famous for being famous for quite some time. That fact may be changing thanks to his involvement as a media personality for "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter." The margarine has developed a game show in which individuals take on Coleman with trivia questions ranging from pop culture from the 70s and 80s to questions about food. The winner can possibly win an $1 million annuity.

Another game show is no big deal, but there are elements to this program that are interesting, to say the least. Most importantly, the show is web based and not on TV.

This unique approach has the following advantages:

* It's cheaper than the traditional game show format, TV. This goes without saying and it allows for a worldwide audience and not merely a national one.

* It allows a level of branding on the show that is normally never done on TV. "I Can't Believe it is Not Butter" is plastered on every inch of the game show's campaign.

* A web personality has to be cheaper than a TV personality. Let's face it, Coleman has been desperate for a new career. His recent marriage has created a stir (she is much taller and younger than him), but he has largely been under the radar screen.

* It is leading to creative PR. Coleman is giving interviews all over the media about his new bride, but those exchanges appear predicated on him being allowed to promote the new game show.

* The program allows for people to win the opportunity to win $1 million. This is an annuity and not cash. This is more affordable than more game shows, but still has plenty of sizzle.

* This game can be played 24/7, because even when Gary isn't there, there are other competitors.

This is a big investment and move towards the Internet, and it should put fear in the heart of any media that are primarily locked in traditional models. The lines are blurred and Gary Coleman is exacting significant revenge on a media that has largely ignored him for years.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Creating the New Media

The Internet has turned the world upside down. Brick and mortar has been rapidly replaced by click and portal. People have huge businesses without a building and the hottest TV networks are online.

For example, YouTube wasn't just another "website", but was the first new major network of the 21st century. Clever websites are not purchased by companies like Google for over $1.6 billion. A completely new media platform that has the convenience of the web and the visual qualities of TV apparently are.

The changes going on through the Internet are becoming an obsession of mine, something I discuss on my radio show (see video above), write about in this blog, and even think about when I'm alone (while looking at websites that fuel this interest).

Adding to this Internet debate is a website I recently stumbled on called Brightcove.com. The purpose of the site is to help people and businesses to create online TV networks of their own. Their client list is impressive, including A&E and CBS News (broadcast and cable), The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (newspapers), as well as Time and Prevention (magazines). However, the site's value isn't limited to companies in the media, but to any company trying to develop creative ways to attract and keep customers.

What is most interesting about Brightcove is that you don't have to be a mega corporation to create your own online network. Instead, they offer options that allows small businesses to have the platform at no cost and share revenue for advertisements that they can run on the site they give you (with plenty of room for additional inventory). This makes it possible to have a very powerful media platform with minimal investment.

In addition, the site offers several lengthy articles on how to make the most of this impressive tool. I've spent hours on the site and I suggest you spend time there too.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and is Publisher of the Houston Business Review.

Changes at Business Week

There is a cliché that “style is not as important as substance, but people won’t notice your substance if you lack style.” Business Week magazine has undergone a very serious style change this month – the first in four years. I know why magazines are doing such these days, they are trying to figure out how to compete against the Internet, they like the buzz (even if it is bad, I presume) that any change brings, and there are often substantive reasons for a change in format.

The magazine contends that the changes are intended to make the publication easier to navigate and better to read. Furthermore, the change is also in content with a shift from executive lifestyle to more hard business news. I assume that those changes are fostered by the invasion of the Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition and the heavy emphasis placed by magazines such as Forbes and Fortune in this arena. Furthermore, I always liked Business Week for being focused on the real world of business and am glad to see it return to its roots. It is among the reasons it is one of my favorite business publications.

When I first saw the magazine’s new design I noticed the McGraw-Hill label prominently displayed. When I think of McGraw-Hill, I think of textbooks. This publication is decades old and has always been owned by the book publisher, but I had no idea. Historically, it has been about the content, not the content provider. Those days are gone and now every company is doing everything it can to promote its brand and that would include McGraw-Hill.

That label, the slightly larger size, and the wider margins gave the publication a dramatically different look. It provided a look that I have to describe as some what “academic.” Unfortunately, most of us gave up publications with an academic look when we were in college. Some even ceremoniously burned the books used that final semester to put the whole experience behind them, though I won’t mention any names.

It is too early to say I don’t like the changes. I need to spend a little more time with them. The truth is, however, I will get most of my Business Week content online like I have for the last several years. I hope they don’t take an academic approach there. Those university web sites seem very complicated.

Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

How to Market to Houston Businesses

Secret: This article will work in almost any city, but even the title is a part of the marketing strategy. At the time of this writing most of my clients are in Houston, I want them to find me in a simple Google search. I think you get the idea.

The way people market today is predicated on factors that really didn't exist just a few years ago. You would almost think that someone would have told many marketing businesses that they have no legitimate reason to exist with the advent of the Internet. Or, at the very least, they should make it clear that there expertise doesn't include the Internet if such is not the case. Ironically, some of the largest and most prestigious lag far behind in developing Internet based strategies.

I believe in the convergence of media. I believe some people like some sources of information while others might prefer a different means. I like everything; audio, video and (I'm old) articles. Some like TV, but increasingly many prefer to watch TV online (as Rupert Murdoch likes to say, "when and where they want it."). My firm uses TV, radio, podcasts (video and audio), articles, blogs, etc. to reach audience for our clients. With over 100,000 unique viewers and around 1 million hits each month, this strategy is working.

The hardest people to reach are business owners. It is quite common for them to work 10 hours plus, but still want to be kept informed. These individuals are quick to turn the page at the first sign of an ad, flip a channel at first sight of the commercial, or spin the radio at first sound of a break in their programming. My answer to that problem is simple. Get your message across when people are listening and watching. The group I describe as "the Accumulators" demand such.

I produced an audio about this important demographic group and I have been told by colleagues that recognizing this group and developing strategies to reach them can make or break a business. I have been encouraged to more vigorously spread the word on it, which is why I am writing this post.

I was recently interviewed by Robbie Adair of the Media A-Team on the power of the convergence of media (an essential element in reaching Accumulators) and want to invite readers to watch it here. Until people understand the importance of a multi-media approach and the role Accumulators are playing in the economy, they are going to find acquiring business a much more frustrating proposition.

Note: Order Kevin Price's audio program The Accumulators, which explains the impact that the Internet is having on marketing and consumer behavior. It is available online here for only $10 plus p and h. Receive the Houston Business Review e-zine free each week by clicking here.

Whatever happenend to Barnes and Noble?

This weekend I did something I haven't done in a long time. I spent a couple of hours just hanging out at my local Barnes and Noble book store. I use to go often on weekends and use it as a time for catching up on my reading and just to relax in one of their big, comfy chairs.

I thought I stop going because of the Internet. After all, the obsolescence of virtually everything seems to be linked to the World Wide Web. But I was reminded this reason about the actual reason. The chair (see picture).

Back in the old days, a visit to Barnes and Noble meant some time in a big comfy chair while reading the latest books or magazines. Today when I went there were around 60 people in the store and around 4 big comfy chairs. It had all the markings of a very aggressive game of musical chairs. I circled the chairs a couple of times to try to size up when people were sitting and you could tell they were nervous. After all, I wasn't the only one eyeing these seats.

They were buckled down and the ladies pulled their purses a little closer in case some of these people had different intentions. I wasn't going to stand there forever, so I started wandering the rows and rows of books until I found a chair. One that looks like the one above. I was going to actually take a picture of the chair I sat in with my cell phone, but I couldn't even stand up straight after spending over an hour in it.

Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed my visit until I got up. But the chair is a definite factor as to why I don't spend much time there. With around 60 there, I may have been the only one who felt that way. But I miss the good old days when it comes to Barnes and Noble.

See How They Run: The First in a Series on the 2008 Elections

There are few things that have a bigger impact on a business's bottom line than government. In fact, government is a huge shareholder in virtually every business that takes huge amounts of money without helping a company's performance and actually undermines their productivity through excessive regulations and licensure laws (ask me how I really feel). Therefore, being informed about who is running is crucial in order to make sure that the people that are chosen do as little damage as possible. So over the next two years (can you believe it) I intend to do several articles on some of the dynamics of the race, discuss who is running, and in a very bold move describe very closely the next president even before the first primaries are held. In fact, you should be able to guess who that candidate will be by my description (just wait, I think it will be impressive).

In the posts on this subject that come I will discuss:

* Why they are running so early.

* Do candidates getting started this early weaken sitting incumbants?

* What role race, gender, and religion will play in the election.

* Who each of the candidates are (in both parties) and what their chances of winning.

* The role the Internet will play in these elections (like TV, a largely new media in 1960 destroyed Richard Nixon; the Web is knocking off candidates with tongues that slip and other behaviors).

I'm sure over time that several other items will come up and I would love to hear from others on other issues I should cover. With the possibility of the election of a woman, an African American, Hispanic, Mormon, and who knows what else I am missing, 2008 promises to be a very interesting year indeed. And even if we elect another white guy again this election will be historic because we will not have had an incumbant President or Vice President on the ballot in any Primary. We haven't seen that since 1928.

The Incredible Shrinking Magazine

Let me just start by stating that I love magazines (I actually have 6 or 7 subscriptions). For many years I wanted to eventually have a magazine of my own. In spite of the pounding that print has faced in general due to the Internet, new magazines still seem to be popping up, but their future is still doubtful since with every new one there are several that fail. I believe that magazines are shrinking, both in size and importance, and this is reflected by the following indicators:

• Cheaper than ever. The price of a subscription must be less than it costs to mail it, let alone print it. Magazines that people paid $20 to $30 a year 5 years ago, cost around $10. In fact, $10 seems to be the going rate for such publications. This is their desperate attempt to convince businesses of the large number of people that are seeing their advertisements. Magazines are finding it difficult to keep up with the growing online viewership.

• The number of pages are declining. I'm sure this is related to the number of ads purchased (there is a formula of number of ads, justifying the number of pages of content).

• Magazines play a copy cat role. Magazines are looking more and more like printed websites. Since you can access most sites for free and they have direct links to other articles, that can't bode well for magazines.

• The growth of the "third screen" (mobile devices) makes it possible for people to access numerous "magazines" through out the day. Increasingly I use my pda to access articles. The content is free (at least what I read) and my selections virtually unlimited.

Still, I love magazines and I would not be surprised if I increase my subscriptions (since they practically give them away). But an ominous cloud hangs over the future of all print publications.

Expect a New "Benchmark" Day: Gift Card Tuesday

Most people are familiar with Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving when retailers finally go into the black because of the huge Christmas sales) and Cyber Monday (the Monday following Thanksgiving in which people make most of their holiday online purchases), now get ready for "Gift Card Tuesday." Tuesday was the day that I first heard reports of the impact all the gift cards sold in November was having on the economy (stores report the dollars in cards redeemed, not purchased). Those results were huge and actually turned the financial picture around for several retailers. This day was chosen by me because that is when I started to see stories on the impact; the economy watchers may connect the gift card impact to another day of the week. Regardless, this day will become huge in sizing up the economy's performance.

For decades the only measure of holiday sales that mattered was Black Friday. With the advent of the Internet we have seen the rapid rise of Cyber Monday. Gift Cards is now the new major player. Over time I believe gift cards are going to become the biggest factor, followed by Cyber Monday (with many purchases paid for with those cards) and then Black Friday. The Internet will continue to turn the economy -- and the world -- upside down.