Tracking the latest digital media industry trends, with news from SGL Mediacast, Digital Content Next, IAB, and more
The digital media industry trends dominating the headlines at the end of 2015 share some overlap with the digital media industry trends we started the year with — monetizing mobile and video, for instance — but there are some that came out of nowhere and now have the business scrambling around somewhere between casual concern and crisis mode.
You guessed that one, all right … ad blocking.
Meanwhile, multiplatform publishing — our focus since we started Mequoda — has gone from optional strategy to absolute necessity for digital magazines making any sort of serious bid for success.
MediaPost’s Publishers Daily is on top of these digital media industry trends, plus many others. Let’s take a look at some recent articles!
New Tablet Magazine’s ‘Scope’: Re-Create Print
SGL Mediacast has launched Telescope, the newest entry among tablet magazines and one that will attempt a print magazine feel, but with fewer ads. As in, no ads, but rather Google and social buys, as well as a page devoted to “friends” and a potential issue-wide sponsor in future editions, MediaPost’s Publishers Daily reports.
“At this point, we plan to keep the magazine feeling very ad-free,” Editor Becca Bennett told Sara Guaglione.
“With the magazine, we want to create an immersive storytelling experience. Readers can connect with a story in a more intimate way than what print allows by using the multimedia potential of an app-based platform.”
33% of U.S. Digital Consumers Consider Ad Blocking Programs
According to a new survey by Digital Content Next (nee Online Publishers Association), one-third of Americans are very or somewhat likely to try ad blockers in the next three months, MediaPost’s Publishers Daily reports.
“On a scale of one to 10, my concern is at a level eight or nine — our industry has ignored consumer concerns and now these same consumers are speaking up by installing ad-blocking software. We need leaders across the industry to focus on providing better experiences, transparency and controls that will solve this issue,” DCN CEO Jason Kint told Erik Sass.
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IAB Will Address That and More at Upcoming Summit
No coincidence, then, that the Interactive Advertising Bureau is convening a summit on January 26 to discuss ad blocking, UX, video, and lack of sales talent.
AOL, CBS Interactive, Digital First Media, Discovery Digital Media, Fast Company/Inc. Media, Forbes Media, FOX News Digital, Google, iHeartMedia, LinkedIn, NBCUniversal, News Corporation, Pandora, Reuters, The Weather Company, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, Triad Retail Media, Turner, WebMD, and Wikia are on the invite list, MediaPost’s Publishers Daily reports.
Wine Enthusiast Debuts New Mobile First Design
The recent Wine Enthusiast redesign aims to take a niche mainstream, while maximizing mobile opportunities for video and navigation, MediaPost’s Publishers Daily reports.
“On the visual side, visitors to the new Web site will find a greater emphasis on eye-catching photography and video, with a simpler layout for navigating content sections via mobile devices, and personalized content recommendations based on user search. On the editorial side, the Wine Enthusiast Web site is highlighting its library of over 200,000 free reviews of wine, beer and spirits, as well as expanded “how-to” and “Wine Basics” sections with articles, videos, and photo galleries,” Sass writes.
“Turning to e-commerce, the Web site now features “shop this story” functionality for every article, as well as links to the company’s extensive ecommerce business, which sells wine as well as accessories ranging from wine refrigerators to holiday decorations. Advertisers are also getting new options as part of the redesign, including sponsored content integrations.”
Which digital media industry trends are you keeping tabs on? Let us know in the comments!
To read more about digital media industry trends in the news, visit MediaPost’s Publishers Daily.
