mr_pikachu
23rd September 2008, 07:32 PM
Before we begin, I'd like to point out that the initial inspiration for this thread does focus on anime. However, I think the discussion topic has far broader merits, so I'd like to consider the idea across all forms of media. Hence why it's a Miscellaneous topic and not OA.
But let's not put the cart before the horse. For starters, please look at this article: Hulu.com Launches Channel for Free, Legal Anime Streams (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-23/hulu-website-launches-channel-for-free-legal-anime).
As anyone who knows absolutely anything about the otaku culture is aware, fansubbing is both a boon for fans and a potential catastrophe for companies. After all, fans are consuming their work without giving them a cent - where's the value in that?
That situation, in many ways, is similar to the more Western crisis of illegal downloading, particularly in terms of movies and music. We've seen some examples in the news recently of how bands and companies try to counter that, with varying degrees of success. (Be honest, how many of you paid more than $0.00 for Radiohead's "name your own price" album last year?)
This is clearly an age in which companies must be innovative in order to keep the revenue coming. They have to make the legal route more attractive to their customers than the easier, often-cheaper illegal route.
Perhaps the offer of free anime by Hulu (sponsored by multiple distributors) is a step in the right direction. Perhaps they'll be laughed right off the internet. We'll see.
Now, considering the above thoughts, I'd like to address a few pertinent questions.
1. Do you think this strategy will work to pull customers away from subbing services like Dattebayo and return revenue to the producers?
2. Are there better tactics that they could use?
3. How could movie and music companies take similar measures to restore their income streams? Would something like this work?
And just for fun... 4. Have you seen anything else like Radiohead's ploy that failed catastrophically?
Yeah, it's a lot of ground to cover, but this is a pretty big, very important topic.
So. Discuss!
But let's not put the cart before the horse. For starters, please look at this article: Hulu.com Launches Channel for Free, Legal Anime Streams (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-23/hulu-website-launches-channel-for-free-legal-anime).
As anyone who knows absolutely anything about the otaku culture is aware, fansubbing is both a boon for fans and a potential catastrophe for companies. After all, fans are consuming their work without giving them a cent - where's the value in that?
That situation, in many ways, is similar to the more Western crisis of illegal downloading, particularly in terms of movies and music. We've seen some examples in the news recently of how bands and companies try to counter that, with varying degrees of success. (Be honest, how many of you paid more than $0.00 for Radiohead's "name your own price" album last year?)
This is clearly an age in which companies must be innovative in order to keep the revenue coming. They have to make the legal route more attractive to their customers than the easier, often-cheaper illegal route.
Perhaps the offer of free anime by Hulu (sponsored by multiple distributors) is a step in the right direction. Perhaps they'll be laughed right off the internet. We'll see.
Now, considering the above thoughts, I'd like to address a few pertinent questions.
1. Do you think this strategy will work to pull customers away from subbing services like Dattebayo and return revenue to the producers?
2. Are there better tactics that they could use?
3. How could movie and music companies take similar measures to restore their income streams? Would something like this work?
And just for fun... 4. Have you seen anything else like Radiohead's ploy that failed catastrophically?
Yeah, it's a lot of ground to cover, but this is a pretty big, very important topic.
So. Discuss!