Many readers here have already debated how Torrents/P2P screws up affiliate programs and content producers. There's too many threads to count.
However, one possible group of content providers that may be beneficiaries of the Torrent/P2P boom are: small comics publishers and legit anime distributors
How do they benefit? Unlike purely digital content producers/affiliate programs, their product starts out at TANGIBLE media products which are then digitized by 'fans' (aka pirates and scumbags to many purely digital content producers) and posted online.
There's 3 factors that this small subset of content providers enjoy that BIG media companies (like Playboy and penthouse) and purely digital media companies don't enjoy:
a) smaller or "niche" circulation bases offline. These are small publishers or big publishers from another country that don't have a large media circulation in the US (eg. Japanese anime companies)
b) They focus on media products whose tangible/offline counterparts have a market of their own (for example: anime books, comic BOOKs, etc). These tangible qualities have their OWN VALUE apart from their digital versions ie., they are collector's items.
c) The scanned versions vary in quality and are often "incomplete" (due to translation issues, etc)
These same 3 factors allow these smaller media companies to generate a fanbase through a "If you like it, Buy it" distribution strategy.
No wonder, smaller comic book companies have RELENTED in having torrents of unauthorized scans of their product lines pulled off P2P networks.
Just one relatively SMALL EXCEPTION to the current conventional wisdom that p2p sites hurt digital content providers/distributors. However, it may hold lessons that some digital media companies can use in making User Media channels their allies towards greater profitability.
Discuss.
However, one possible group of content providers that may be beneficiaries of the Torrent/P2P boom are: small comics publishers and legit anime distributors
How do they benefit? Unlike purely digital content producers/affiliate programs, their product starts out at TANGIBLE media products which are then digitized by 'fans' (aka pirates and scumbags to many purely digital content producers) and posted online.
There's 3 factors that this small subset of content providers enjoy that BIG media companies (like Playboy and penthouse) and purely digital media companies don't enjoy:
a) smaller or "niche" circulation bases offline. These are small publishers or big publishers from another country that don't have a large media circulation in the US (eg. Japanese anime companies)
b) They focus on media products whose tangible/offline counterparts have a market of their own (for example: anime books, comic BOOKs, etc). These tangible qualities have their OWN VALUE apart from their digital versions ie., they are collector's items.
c) The scanned versions vary in quality and are often "incomplete" (due to translation issues, etc)
These same 3 factors allow these smaller media companies to generate a fanbase through a "If you like it, Buy it" distribution strategy.
No wonder, smaller comic book companies have RELENTED in having torrents of unauthorized scans of their product lines pulled off P2P networks.
Some companies, such as Slave Labor Graphics and Hack/Slash for instance, having previously requested removal of their material later relented, after seeing how Z-Cult has grown their readership and fandom.
Just one relatively SMALL EXCEPTION to the current conventional wisdom that p2p sites hurt digital content providers/distributors. However, it may hold lessons that some digital media companies can use in making User Media channels their allies towards greater profitability.
Discuss.
Comment