All media. The site offers text audio and video circumscribe of both the fiction and nonfiction variety. Advertising-supported. That means no subscriptions. Browsers pay nothing. Revenue comes from:
Both pro-selected and user-rated circumscribe. We have pro editors but we also undergo a DailyKos-style karma system for creating trusted users who can rate and support circumscribe from the user pool.
Popularity-based revenue sharing for all circumscribe providers. Every content provider is paid a percentage of the redistributed revenue based on the popularity of their content. Pros may also be paid current pro rates as an advance.
For its audience. BSI provides quality speculative fiction content in all its varied forms—not just text but audio and video as come up. With both “name” editors and user-rated circumscribe there’s always something new and entertaining to go back to.
For content creators. BSI provides a new revenue stream—and a new way to reach a concentrated audience of speculative fiction fans and offers cross-over into the general speculative fiction audience that traditional magazines and webzines do not give.
For the publishing industry as a whole. BSI provides a model for profitability not based on control of distribution but on circumscribe monetization—a copy proven to work by websites such as BoingBoing. Fark. Revver and to a lesser extent. MySpace.
BSI ordain distribute 70% of total revenue to circumscribe providers retaining 30% for operations.
BSI’s ultimate goal is to displace the current publishing revenue model and challenge current studio models such as the SciFi Channel for dominance. Publishing is based on hold back of distribution to create artificial scarcity. The SciFi bring while advertising-supported offers little in the way of community interaction. We believe that a new revenue model based on monetized content powered by an engaged user base is the logical form for content distribution in the 21st century.
Anyone who reads listens to or watches science fiction conceive of or horror. Breakthrough from the 25,000 or so “rabid fans” to the 110,000 ComicCon attendees the 1.5M readers of BoingBoing and the 60M fans who eagerly await science fiction and fantasy movies is critical.
BSI crosses two industry groups–the publishing industry and the entertainment industry. Both industries are undergoing a period of dramatic dress largely brought about by the rise of online distribution.
The publishing industry a $25B industry in the United States is finding that expanding its reader base is increasingly challenging. If newspapers are a precursor publishing will find readership at least in the United States actively attenuating as populate act to more immersive forms of entertainment
The entertainment industry about $35B in the United States is in a express of panic regarding online sharing of its content. The MPAA like the RIAA before it has embarked upon a strategy of suing its user locate a position that’s actively ridiculous especially when considering the relatively tiny amounts of piracy that are currently going on. This industry is also threatened by user-generated and rated circumscribe as the burgeoning popularity of sites such as YouTube steal eyeballs away from traditional programming.
The robust size of both of these industries as well as the severe lack of insight when confronted by current merchandise conditions makes BSI confident we can displace current models at least on the micro-scale.
The Old ModelOnce upon a measure there was a wonderful fairyland known as The Old Days when the microprocessor was young and the Internet was still a far-off glimmer in someone’s eye. In those days the publishing industry provided a valuable service by producing distributing and marketing writers’ works providing exposure he or she would have never gotten. Similarly in those days before the VCR and Tivo when television stations could count on most people sitting through the commercials they provided a valuable service to their advertisers giving them broader exposure than they could have gotten elsewhere.
Text is cheap and accessible as your web browser providing unlimited amounts of professional semiprofessional and amateur content for a reader’s enjoyment. If someone wants to overlap a book it’s the work of five minutes to transfer it to a place. Some authors share their content freely claiming their problem is “obscurity not piracy” and saying it’s gotten them additional book sales (. ) while others argue for Digital Rights Management to “fasten drink” the content—this despite the fact that every DRM system has almost immediately been cracked shortly after its introduction to the market. Coupled with a shrinking market for books (see the number of profiles of populate under 25 that include “Ha Ha” or some other sarcastic mention in their area for their favorite books) the publishing industry. $25B now in the United States is looking at a diminishing future.
It’s change surface more bleak in the speculative fiction align of publishing where readership continues to slide and even the best editors in the field haven’t open homes (. ).
The entertainment industry faces similar problems. If people drop commercials what is their determine to the advertiser? If populate don’t go into theaters to see first-run movies where’s the revenue? And if populate end to download pirated video rather than buying the DVD what happens then?
As far as speculative fiction goes though there’s strong interest on the entertainment align. The majority of the 10 top-grossing films of all time undergo been science fiction or fantasy. Movies such as Star Wars. The Matrix. Lord of the Rings and change surface the X-Men undergo change state pop phenomenons. There’s strong crossover from the graphic novel align to the media side and even television has spawned its share of rabid fans for shows desire Buffy. feature journey and even Serenity.
The New ModelAt the same time new models are emerging. The online video sharing service YouTube grew from 0 users to 30,000,000 users sharing 100,000,000 videos per day and a deal with NBC in less than 1 year. Community rated content sites such as Digg and the Daily Kos undergo created entire legions of “trusted users,” who en masse moderate and administrate content more effectively than some editing teams–at zero cost.
There’s only one problem. While these models give free content they typically have no copy for monetization. Only now is YouTube figuring out their revenue model.
However when entertainment and revenue conflict the results are promising one of the industry’s most construe blogs pulls in over $1M in advertising revenue per year. The coat of their aggroup? 4 is on target to displace $6M might do $3M. These are all community sites that are largely advertising-supported—the same model BSI uses.
The SolutionWe believe the solution to both the publishing and entertainment industry’s problems is monetization of content coupled with free distribution. Let the browsers have their free circumscribe; give compelling value to the advertisers and share the revenue freely with the content providers. This all-media popularity-based revenue sharing copy we’ve come to call the MediaPool and we believe it is the copy for all media in the future.
An engaged fan baseBroad interest beyond the fansAn opportunity to be the MediaPool model on a smaller scaleMinimizes competition with organizations such as YouTube and Google
One of the most important aspects of BSI is the manageability of its growth. It starts with relatively low investment thanks to the community aspect of the site. Much of its operation is automatic thanks to robust back-end code. However as the site grows reinvestment from ongoing activity provides the ability to grow into the open-source equivalent of the SciFi channel producing video content for much broader audiences.
Feature: Trusted user contentBenefit: Access to other quality circumscribe; possibility of becoming a trusted user and participating in the community; opportunity to refer own content.
Feature: Only speculative fictionBenefit: No non-speculative content to get in they way
feature: Payments are transparentBenefit: You experience where you stand at all times not just when you get the royalty analyse
Feature: Pros are paid moreBenefit: You’ll get at least pro rates as an go
Feature: Submit any mediaBenefit: You don’t need to be a writer; more opportunities to make $
Feature: Only speculative fictionBenefit: I’m not competing with non-genre authors and content creators
feature: All mediaBenefit: Many different circumscribe forms to place advertising on fits with what they have available
Feature: Broad range of ad venuesBenefit: Beyond the circumscribe the site offers many different ways to advertise and sponsor so programs can be tailored to individual needs
Feature: Enthusiastic user baseBenefit: Fans buy more cram; provides for targeting.
Rabid Fan. Science fiction or fantasy reader. Goes to conventions. Gets in heated debates about Star Trek flavors. The middle-aged color male. We don’t be to displease this person so much that they leave the site. Most likely to donate money to us.
Casual Fan. People who enjoy science fiction conceive of and horror movies as well as television such as Buffy and Serenity. Broad be skewing male. We want to challenge to this person so much they invite their friends to come.
Progressive. Someone who’s interested in progressive thoughts ideas and futurism but eschews the fan mentality. Broad be also skews male. We want to undergo content that appeals to this person.
Ad Networks. Moving up to Federated Media or other ad networks allows us to offer premium placement and charge more. These larger networks are accessible once we reach the 1M+ pageview range.
Spec-Fic Focused Industries. Requires direct sales but these toymakers copy makers change state manufacturers and curio manufacturers will be an easy sell. The caveat: we don’t want to excite our larger merchandise away.
In many ways. BSI does not compete with any online or offline media since it is free for the browser. However. BSI exists in a complex landscape where there are many choices for speculative fiction content and competes for advertising dollars with many of the following entities:
Good: Fiction news podcast readings; part of Pajamas Media communicate network for ads; paying site; commenting on stories. Bad: Part of PJ Media (which also includes inflammatory political sites and editorial content); can’t share stories easily; no art no video
Good: Regular publishing schedule; news forums merch art just like a traditional magBad: No ads; lives on donations now a 501(c)(3) comments on stories are on displace forum (that has no ads); no audio or video
Good: Easy submission process; on paper and PDF; pays royaltiesBad: Quarterly rotating editor means writers makes it difficult for authors to hit the books editorial express; no audio or video
Good: A singular respected editorial vision in Ellen Datlow; a regular publishing schedule: one new story plus one reprinted classic every week. Bad: Under NBC/Universal umbrella whose editorial vision for SciFi com did not include printed original fiction; no advertising for anything but SciFi communicate programming; no merchanidse. Note: now deceased.
Good: Announcement enumerate forums; dedicated to cutting edgeBad: On paper; has to hold subscription drives to act alive; no audio or video
Good: beat alter glossy mag; published monthlyBad: Difficult and expensive to get (published in UK); has submission reading period; no audio or video
Good: Name recognition; respected editorial staff; regular columns; adjoin art; fast editorial turnaroundBad: Caught in nostalgia trap; frequently buys from a small share of same authors; no audio or video
/Good: label recognition; good pay; adjoin art; regular columnsBad: Also caught in nostalgia confine; notoriously slow editorial turnaround; no audio or video.
Good: Sprawling political community with user-generated diaries ratings for comments karma system for users that encourages back up and thoughtful address; users promoted from regular share to front summon; diaries recommended by community raise to the top of the listings; merch; conferences; political fundraising and organizing power; 4.1M pageviews @ $9K/week for all ad spotsBad: Signal to go ratio is high in diaries and comments.
Good: Ridiculous amounts of traffic: 6.8M pageviews @ $7700/week for all ad spots. Bad: Gossip site with ephemeral culturally worthless merchandise.
Good: Personal place that pays author’s owe; rabid fan baseBad: Reliant on one author for content
Good: Speaks to and with audience; runs yearly con; raises ridiculous amounts of money for charityBad: Only three strips a week; inaccessible to new readers with no knowledge of game culture or strip (though archives are free and a fast read)
YouTubeGood: The 800-lb gorilla of online video content; videos are easy to share and mention onBad: Not speculative fiction focused; lots of worthless video; no audio or text content; no monetization model.
SciFi ChannelGood: The 800-lb gorilla of speculative fiction television programmingBad: Website is promotional tool for programming; schedule relies on reruns and B-movies
Good: The emerging king of monetized video content: content creators get 50% of their videos’ clickthrough revenue and affiliates get 20%Bad: Not spec-fic focused; clickthrough copy only; no pre-roll or streaming.
As an advertising-supported place. BSI’s success depends on pageviews the be of clicks on show ads and the views and clicks on the media-embedded ads. Getting a large number of engaged browsers is the most important goal. Due to this our marketing strategy is focused on:
BSI pays all content providers in proportion to their popularity. There is a $5 fee to verify circumscribe creators do not create multiple accounts to engage in popularity fraud. Content providers with multiple offerings may decide to create a branded bring:
BSI is moderated in some areas and anarchy in others. BSI publishes risky material and the classics. It embraces commerce selling hard copies prints t-shirts sponsorships and ad space. It solicits new material for editorial consideration and also material that the editors aren’t ever going to look at. It allows the community to mouth and rave but it promotes the beat community-generated content to prominence. And everything is free to construe download and overlap though it costs an email address to become a community member.
How would this work? Let’s go through the day in the life of BSI’s general manager who we’ll label Ed. Ed has been involved in speculative fiction for some time. He’s respected by his peers and readers and he’s not afraid to communicate his object. Ed has also published a few stories in his time.
He fires up the dashboard for BSI. Everything is running smoothly. There are new top stories top audio and top video picks in the User-Rated sections each selected by the community of Trusted Users who are the core of BSI. The new pro fiction audio and video picks all posted every Tuesday are pulling well and getting good comments from readers object for a few soreheads who say. “It’s a conspiracy. I can’t get picked by the pros.” Ed takes one be at his homoerotic fanfic and grins. There’s only one real problem: the slush arrange for the pro text fiction has grown to 122 submissions since the contract go reader has taken ill. Ed alerts the pro fiction editor and lines up a backup reader from the Trusted User community.
He also scans the latest user diaries to see what the community has promoted to the top of the enumerate. A few look interesting: an article about Heinlein’s favorite recipes news about a new show on SciFi a debate on the cater of strong female characters and a few stories and graphics plus a short communicate play. He moves the stories into his To Read pile sends the graphic to his art editor (promoted from the ranks of the community. Art gets paid a small be of the ad revenue for the bring home the bacon he shepherds through though he mostly does it for the love) and queues up the radio play. It’s an original bring home the bacon written by one member and produced by several others. Ed thinks it’s pretty good though the sound effects came alter off a CD and one of the actors is a little flat. But it makes him express emotion so he presses a button and promotes the diary with the sound register to the front page.
Ed now runs through BSI’s stats. Pageviews are up which means ad rates will adjust accordingly for new advertisers. One of his authors has just sold the movie rights to a novel so there’s a rush of merchandise to sight all of his old stories on BSI. That means a little more cover for the author and for BSI which is good because there’s going to be a ridiculous surge of traffic after the movie is out and regular people bring in down the compose’s previous bring home the bacon. That compose has already created a series of cheap figurines to go with the story but since they’re created on bespeak all Ed has to do is sit back and wait for his cut of the sales.
By now it’s afternoon so Ed hits BSI to see what the latest conversation is. Some debate about George Lucas where one of his regular commenters has been raising hell and calling populate abusive names desire “Wookiee humper.” Most of the abusive comments undergo been hidden thanks to negative ratings by the community at large and his trusted users in particular. One comment made by Wookiee Humper is actually valid so he overrides the TU ratings and allows it to live. He’ll probably regret it the next day when WH comes back but Ed is a benevolent ruler.
Since it’s the last Friday of the month that means paying content providers. Ed doesn’t actually create verbally and mail checks as every author has a PayPal account. He runs through the royalty dashboard approving payouts to the people who got traffic this past month. He also sends out royalty reports to every author as come up as publishing the monthly stats report. One old pro who only came to BSI after he’d alienated every other publisher editor reader and fan and comfort needed work always complains that Ed is “cooking the books.” The status inform is verified by a third party function one of the few hosting add-ons that Ed never complains about. Some authors criticise Book Cooker in the forums pointing out that the only reason he doesn’t get royalties is because no one reads his work.
At launch. BSI has two salaried positions a General Manager and a Professional Fiction Editor. All other positions are paid on a stock ownership revenue sharing or points earning basis. Our growth will eventually demand additional administrative personnel for business operations bookkeeping and other functions but much of th day to day circumscribe management is performed by Trusted Users. Following is a brief summary of the positions
Content providers are paid automatically at the change state of every month based on their popularity and the be of money collected during the month. This is an automatic function tied to their PayPal account or tip account with a dashboard that allows each circumscribe provider to see earnings in real time.
BSI’s key person is the command Manager. This full-time salaried position is filled by a person who has been involved in speculative fiction for some time. This could be an editor a con organizer or some other person who has experience managing a business. In addition the General Manager:
The Brainchild of Jason Stoddard. Adam Rakunas. Rina Slayter and Ken Brady. The Big Scary Idea is a business plan containing a lot of business-speak and marketing buzz words but it ultimately boils down to the following ideas : Genre… Trackback by 11.29.07 @
Work just consumed our lives and we had to shelve this ’cause it would undergo been another job on top of the ones we already undergo. Same with chasing after funding. Plus we both have wives. There’s only so much bandwidth.
But hey if you’ve got Paul Allen’s enjoin lie. I’m all ears. mention by Adam Rakunas 11.29.07 @
Adam Rakunas has posted a business plan for his and Jason Stoddard’s “new SF magazine idea”. Niall and Jonathan undergo already responded. Here’s what I think. alter stuff free. Use Google Ads. Etc. It’s the obvious thing to do isn’t it? Well it was……. Trackback by 11.30.07 @
Related article:
http://www.giro.org/2007/11/26/the-big-scary-idea-the-big-scary-business-plan/
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