This week, we learned that Facebook has inked a deal with 10 popular news sites that will deliver content on Facebook’s new program called “Instant News.” This may be cool for fans of the popular social media site who get most of their news from stories in their feed anyway. It’s also great for the initial 10 Launch partners : The New York Times, National Geographic, BuzzFeed, NBC, The Atlantic, The Guardian, BBC News, Spiegel and Bild.
They get a massive almost guaranteed audience base and a new opportunity to recoup ad revenue.
“The New York Times already has a significant and growing audience on Facebook,” Mark Thompson, President and CEO, The New York Times Company said. “We’re participating in Instant Articles to explore ways of growing the number of Times users on Facebook, improving their experience of our journalism and deepening their engagement. We have a long tradition of meeting readers where they are and that means being available not just on our own sites, but on the social platforms frequented by many current and potential Times users.”
Others see it as a test on reader engagement.
“It is great to see Facebook trialing new ways for quality journalism to flourish on mobile,” said Tony Danker, International Director, Guardian News & Media. “The Guardian is keen to test how the new platform can provide an even more engaging experience for our readers.”
New Video Options
Video content through cable and other multichannel video programming platforms are also offering innovative new ways for audiences to get the content they want.
Perhaps motivated by the growing competition from on demand video streaming services like NetFlix, HULU, and Sling TV, Verizon FiOS, for example, now offers tiers of specialty channels on an bundled package basis. No longer do customers have to pay for an entire lineup of hundreds of channels they never watch.
Pop Culture, Kids, Sports fanatics can order the bundles that include the few channels they watch anyway.
It’s a step closer to a la carte television.
The Future is Now
These new and inventive experiments with content delivery tell us that today and in the future, creativity will be rewarded as will those service providers meeting the needs of consumers and to meet them where they are, on their mobile devices. These ventures and partnerships also display how competition is driving service options, investment and customer service.
Artificial controls and choke holds that some government forces ( like the FCC applying Title 2 to the internet in the highly contentious Open Internet proceedings) impose aim to reign in potential future problems that do not currently exist…just in case. They makes no sense, are wholly unnecessary and could actually hurt innovation and investment.
The robust digital marketplace we see in bundles and packages of offerings coming from the industry are exciting. They also work to expand broadband adoption among those hesitant before, partially by cost in some cases. Once non-adopters see more value in services to their lives, they will more likely be willing to invest in the service. Creative offerings get them there.
There is no need to tie down the wings of a fluttering butterfly when all it wants to do is soar.
Jay Jay Ghatt is also editor at Techyaya.com, founder of the JayJayGhatt.com and JayJayGhatt.com where she teaches online creators how to navigate digital entrepreneurship and offers Do-It-For-You Blogging Service. She manages her lifestyle sites BellyitchBlog, Jenebaspeaks and JJBraids.com and is the founder of BlackWomenTech.com 200 Black Women in Tech On Twitter. Her biz podcast 10 Minute Podcast is available on iTunes and Player.fm. Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks. Buy her templates over at her legal and business templates on Etsy shop!
