Rupert Murdoch: iPad & Kindle unloved without us

kjk · 02-03-2010, 02:07 PM

http://www.smh.com.au/business/ipad-...0203-ndkc.html

Quote:

Rupert Murdoch has suggested the iPad and the Kindle would be ''unloved and unsold'' without creativity from companies like his News Corporation.

Quote:

''Content is not just king, it is the emperor of all things digital,'' he said. ''We're on the cusp of a digital revolution from which our shareholders will profit handsomely.''

Teddman · 02-03-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

''We're on the cusp of a digital revolution from which our shareholders will profit handsomely.''

He's half right.

mcl · 02-03-2010, 02:22 PM

This from the man who wants to take the NYT online to a pay-only model, and who fundamentally doesn't get any new technology (cf. DirecTV's epic struggle to build a stable in-house HD DVR, just to spite Tivo).

ficbot · 02-03-2010, 02:33 PM

And this is exactly why they need to start serving the *customer.* Without the creators, you wouldn't have the content, but without the customer, you would not have anybody profiting handsomely. So, how about some customer-friendly next steps, Murdoch?

sianon · 02-03-2010, 02:40 PM

Murdoch has no concern for his customers, his sole motivation is greed and profit. I for one would prefer not to pay for any content that would put so much as a dollar in his pockets.

Ken Maltby · 02-03-2010, 04:44 PM

And because of his (and other's) motivation by greed and profit there are a
very many satisfied customers, and a goodly number employed in jobs that
wouldn't exist otherwise. Because of his greedy pursuits, there are options
for the consumer that would nerver have seen the light of day. In a free
market, with many options available to the customer, providing the most
"customer friendly" or most attractive to the customer, product/service is
how such as Murdoch gain their wealth.

It is blatantly illogical to state that someone can be "motivated by greed
and profits" and at the same time have "no concern for his customers".
The customers are free to buy whatever products they want, as long as
there are options available. (Free markets by their nature provide options,
Controlled markets restrict the choice to only "approved" or supported
production.) Given the number of those who have gravitated to the
products his companies are providing, the customers seem to have made
the choice. It's not like there aren't plenty of others trying to provide a
more "customer-friendly" product. Ultimately, the customers decide, as
long as they have a choice.

Luck;
Ken

thename · 02-03-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Ultimately, the customers decide, as
long as they have a choice.

This is the key sentence.

Kali Yuga · 02-03-2010, 05:07 PM

Although I am no fan of Murdoch, it's screamingly obvious that the customers of his business pretty much all have had a free choice of whether or not to patronize those businesses. Just about every aspect of News Corp has competition. Newspapers, cable news, publishing, movie studios and so forth.

And while I do think form factor, ease of delivery, customer service and price play a role, there's little doubt that content is the backbone of media devices like ebook readers, tablets and so forth.

re: Paywalls, Murdoch doesn't own the NYT, so he doesn't care what they do, unless he can buy them.

He has seen paywalls work with the Wall Street Journal, and sees how web ad revenues are a total failure at keeping news outlets afloat. I'm not thrilled about paying for news, but if "free" is decimating the news business, it obviously can't be that good of a plan.

Murdoch may be many things, but he isn't much of a Luddite. That's just one reason why he still runs a multi-billion dollar media empire.

guyanonymous · 02-03-2010, 05:13 PM

True about customer choice. Where it gets murky/frustrating is when conglomerates buy up most of their competitors, thus reducing choice to getting the information/content/physical purchase from a vendor you don't want to deal with, or going without completely.

Ken Maltby · 02-03-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyanonymous

True about customer choice. Where it gets murky/frustrating is when conglomerates buy up most of their competitors, thus reducing choice to getting the information/content/physical purchase from a vendor you don't want to deal with, or going without completely.

You wouldn't be refering to Barns & Noble, by chance? Their actions
do seem anti free market, to me.

What seems odd to me is the contrast of B&N's actions and the
$500,000,000.00 Murdoch had to pay to settle litagation claiming
that he was too aggressive in providing coupons to customers -
making that an unfair trading practice. Yet B&N seems to be
sabotaging the market place with it's actions, and I haven't heard
of any lawsuit headed their way.

Luck;
Ken

guyanonymous · 02-03-2010, 05:42 PM

Companies (and many individuals) will push the limits until they get pushed back. Some just don't get noticed, or aren't deemed worth the effort.

I think that Apple's refusal to allow products that duplicate features on their own to be extremely anti-competitive - in fact, I see that as much more anti-competetive than MS and the whole IE debacle. I'm shocked that lawsuits haven't appeared. They're not the only ones - it's been an issue in the video game console market as well.

What's the saying...It's easier to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission. That's just being carried to extremes now.

Shaggy · 02-03-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

And this is exactly why they need to start serving the *customer.*

They do serve their customer. Unfortunately, we are not their customer. Murdoch's customers are the advertisers that pay him for including ads with his content.

Shaggy · 02-03-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

It is blatantly illogical to state that someone can be "motivated by greed
and profits" and at the same time have "no concern for his customers".

The end user is not his customer.

I suspect what that poster meant was "motivated by greed and profits" and "no concern for his end users (aka us)".

Shaggy · 02-03-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Murdoch may be many things, but he isn't much of a Luddite.

Luddite may not be the right word. More like "completely ignorant of technology".

Bremen Cole · 02-03-2010, 05:58 PM

The consumer IS THE MARKETPLACE and in 10 years the marketplace will decide. In ten years the marketplace will have decided which format, DRM (or lack thereof) and price model survives. In a free market economy the power is the marketplace. It is not Macmillan, Apple, B&N, Amazon or Murdoch that decides.

All these various forces can try all the schemes they want, the choice is in our hands.

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02-03-2010, 02:22 PM	#3
mcl Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 608 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle K2i	This from the man who wants to take the NYT online to a pay-only model, and who fundamentally doesn't get any new technology (cf. DirecTV's epic struggle to build a stable in-house HD DVR, just to spite Tivo).

02-03-2010, 02:33 PM	#4
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	And this is exactly why they need to start serving the customer. Without the creators, you wouldn't have the content, but without the customer, you would not have anybody profiting handsomely. So, how about some customer-friendly next steps, Murdoch?

02-03-2010, 02:40 PM	#5
sianon Addict Posts: 352 Karma: 572 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne Device: Sony 500, Bebook, Kindle, Eco reader Drs and soon the Archos 9	Murdoch has no concern for his customers, his sole motivation is greed and profit. I for one would prefer not to pay for any content that would put so much as a dollar in his pockets.

02-03-2010, 04:44 PM	#6
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,466 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	And because of his (and other's) motivation by greed and profit there are a very many satisfied customers, and a goodly number employed in jobs that wouldn't exist otherwise. Because of his greedy pursuits, there are options for the consumer that would nerver have seen the light of day. In a free market, with many options available to the customer, providing the most "customer friendly" or most attractive to the customer, product/service is how such as Murdoch gain their wealth. It is blatantly illogical to state that someone can be "motivated by greed and profits" and at the same time have "no concern for his customers". The customers are free to buy whatever products they want, as long as there are options available. (Free markets by their nature provide options, Controlled markets restrict the choice to only "approved" or supported production.) Given the number of those who have gravitated to the products his companies are providing, the customers seem to have made the choice. It's not like there aren't plenty of others trying to provide a more "customer-friendly" product. Ultimately, the customers decide, as long as they have a choice. Luck; Ken

02-03-2010, 05:07 PM	#8
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Although I am no fan of Murdoch, it's screamingly obvious that the customers of his business pretty much all have had a free choice of whether or not to patronize those businesses. Just about every aspect of News Corp has competition. Newspapers, cable news, publishing, movie studios and so forth. And while I do think form factor, ease of delivery, customer service and price play a role, there's little doubt that content is the backbone of media devices like ebook readers, tablets and so forth. re: Paywalls, Murdoch doesn't own the NYT, so he doesn't care what they do, unless he can buy them. He has seen paywalls work with the Wall Street Journal, and sees how web ad revenues are a total failure at keeping news outlets afloat. I'm not thrilled about paying for news, but if "free" is decimating the news business, it obviously can't be that good of a plan. Murdoch may be many things, but he isn't much of a Luddite. That's just one reason why he still runs a multi-billion dollar media empire.

02-03-2010, 05:13 PM	#9
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	True about customer choice. Where it gets murky/frustrating is when conglomerates buy up most of their competitors, thus reducing choice to getting the information/content/physical purchase from a vendor you don't want to deal with, or going without completely.

02-03-2010, 05:42 PM	#11
guyanonymous Guru Posts: 692 Karma: 27532 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Ebookwise 1150 / 1200	Companies (and many individuals) will push the limits until they get pushed back. Some just don't get noticed, or aren't deemed worth the effort. I think that Apple's refusal to allow products that duplicate features on their own to be extremely anti-competitive - in fact, I see that as much more anti-competetive than MS and the whole IE debacle. I'm shocked that lawsuits haven't appeared. They're not the only ones - it's been an issue in the video game console market as well. What's the saying...It's easier to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission. That's just being carried to extremes now.

02-03-2010, 05:58 PM	#15
Bremen Cole Wizard Posts: 1,115 Karma: 2718 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Device: iPad	The consumer IS THE MARKETPLACE and in 10 years the marketplace will decide. In ten years the marketplace will have decided which format, DRM (or lack thereof) and price model survives. In a free market economy the power is the marketplace. It is not Macmillan, Apple, B&N, Amazon or Murdoch that decides. All these various forces can try all the schemes they want, the choice is in our hands.