Quote:
Originally Posted by stonetools
Whats interesting is that Elfwreck is dead set against the idea of ad-supported ebooks , even as he supports a status quo that leads inexorably towards this as the most likely solution adopted.
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"Ad-supported" never sounds like a good deal to consumers, because they generally believe that they will be unhappy seeing any ads. Reality indicates otherwise: People watch ads; they respond to ads; they buy according to ads; and this is especially when the ads themselves are entertaining, but even when they are only informative, but happen to satisfy a present need.
Advertisers know this. That's why they're willing to subsidize television shows and radio, the mediums that get their messages to the public. If advertisers see a worthwhile medium in literature and ebooks, they'll be seeking out the authors to finance.
The downside is creating a network that connects authors to advertisers. There will also be the tendency for major advertisers to only want to support the biggest authors, and lesser authors fighting for ad sponsoring.
And there's always the danger of having those advertisers dictate what will be written... just as they dictate what we see on television.
But there are a lot of people selling things... many more than there are serious writers. The system could work.