While our long term business model will evolve, a significant portion of our content will remain free.
Comments section not taking it too well. Who knew publishing needed to be paid for eh?
Just going through some of the comments and most of it seems related to the user generated content (comments and buy/sell). I'd imagine the sensible route will be to monetise the more 'premium content' (i.e. expensive video production) and to leave the rest open.
Would hate to see an 'article limit' or other similar implementation of a non-content specific paywall model.
You can’t comment if you can’t see the article though, no?
(Not that that stops a few people 😉)
The field test stuff does seem to marry up with what Beta do though, so maybe there’s some crossover there.
I guess that'll be trailforks swallowed into gaia GPS tootsweet then.
Ah well.
So far as free to use stuff getting thinner on the ground goes I can't say I'm surprised or disappointed. Everyone has bills to pay.
It's astonishing how people continue to expect things that are expensive to create to be free - I know I certainly do, and I've been a victim of this over the years many times as a former journo. In fact it was one of the reasons I got out.
I think there's a growing realisation that good stuff should be paid for in some way, and that paying the creator directly often results in a better outcome. This site / mag is a good example of both that and user generated content.
That said, Pocket Outdoor Media is funded by VCs; they'll be looking for their exit, and I predict many feelings will be trampled in the process.
Full disclosure: I bought a Beta MTB subscription because I love (loved?) what Bike was and wanted to support them. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the GaiaGPS and Trailforks finally integrate. I had a mail from ViewRanger the other day about its integration with OutdoorActive - I know correlation is not causation, but there does seem to be a bit of consolidation going on.
happy days for the owner(s) of pinkbike!
i hope my early subscriber deal to trailforks continues.
happy days for the owner(s) of pinkbike!
I think they were already owned by a private equity company, since 2017.
http://www.headwaterequity.com/portfolio/
The internet is not free then.
One thing that still isn't resolved well is with all forums, its the users that actually provide the content. So its difficult from an economics/commercial perspective to get the content providers to pay for the provision of their content.
I think they were already owned by a private equity company, since 2017.
bastard sellouts
I dont think selling is an issue, its who the new owners are and what they want from the product that matters. Im most cases those that start a business seldom have the same goals as those who buy the business. A big corporate will just want profit.
I've personal experience in a business that did just that, the new corporate that bought it sees the staff and content providers and customers in a totally different way to those that started the business. That fundamentally changes whole thing.
its the users that actually provide the content
User generated content is pretty much worthless. If PB do a subs model like STW does then I'll pay for it to get the content I want. Simple as that.
I enjoy much of the Pinkbike content so I hope this is a success. Only time will tell. Comments section definitely fears change 😀
I wonder if STW will go the same way, acquired by a company looking for the lifestyle angle.....SAGA maybe😀😀
Like everything in life you get value from but don't pay for directly and attributably, it was vulnerable, and an opportunity for someone to "fix".
SAGA maybe😀😀
My coffee is all over my phone now 😂😂
I wonder if STW will go the same way, acquired by a company looking for the lifestyle angle…..SAGA maybe😀😀
Was it Popbitch that described STW as 'The Homes & Gardens of mountain bike magazines'?
Good luck to them. There is always some good content on PB and the photography is brilliant.
Classifieds are my go to when looking for stuff too.
One thing that still isn’t resolved well is with all forums, its the users that actually provide the content. So its difficult from an economics/commercial perspective to get the content providers to pay for the provision of their content.
This is a well-worn argument, and has might have some merit in relation to this site - where the content is a sideshow to the forum for most of us.
But while the PB comments section can be useful and funny, the main draw of their site is that they've invested waaaay more than any other outlet in MTB journalism and video content. And they're generally doing a good job of it.
Still, monetising previously free content is notoriously problematic and even as someone who's worked in digital content for 20 years, I'd struggle to know where to stick the paywall on PB.
Maybe if they just charge for access to Ben Cathro? Everyone loves him, eh?
Was it Popbitch that described STW as ‘The Homes & Gardens of mountain bike magazines’?
How I'd love that to be true, but I've read every newsletter since the early 2000s and I'd probably remember it.
Classifieds are my go to when looking for stuff too.
Actually, monetising the Classifieds could work.