Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March

Here we go Barney, here's some answers to your questions.

“What is bugging me (or at least has been until today) is who on earth would have bought the rights? What content was it they were actually interested in and at what price?”
EWAN: I can't disclose the name of the company. The content they're interested in is as I set out on the post above – news, analysis, perspective, bit of video, with a bent toward their particular operating industry.

“In other words the only major value I can see in the MIR content is that of the video which is after all the most costly thing to produce.”
EWAN: No. They value written content with a focus on reports discussing specific areas.

“I was kind of under the impression that like so many others James, Ben & Dan had given their time and efforts freely (or at least without being paid) to help create the MIR shows. If James is moving on does this mean the others will follow? Is this the end of the MIR show?”
EWAN: In most cases, James Ben and Dan gave their time for free and I paid for all expenses. e.g. They didn't pay anything when we went to Rome etc. This is indeed the end of the MIR Show as you know it, but James, Ben and Dan are free to do as they wish.

“Ewan talks about the new subscription model in “we” and “our” terms but will there even be a team to back him up?”
EWAN: Yes. I'm hiring some report writers and researchers. I can't afford to hire any of the contributors on their market rates — and I don't think they'd be into this sort of thing even if I could.

“Did they get a pay day, should they have stood to gain financially from the changes, they were of course the creatives behind the content?”
EWAN: Did Ben Dan and James get a pay day? I think you've entirely mis-read the reality. They were giving their time for free and I was paying their expenses. I was paying for absolutely everything and I couldn't find a model that would allow me to continue to do so without stressing. To be clear I spent 33k in January alone on MIR. Me. We had the occasional supporter/advertiser, but it was me who funded it all. So we're not talking in terms of gaining financially. The financial gain I get from this 'transaction' is that I stop spending so much per month.

“Personally I can understand a move to a subscription model in part but seriously doubt that in its current form and without the support and goodwill of the community (who if they are like me feel a little deflated) I can’t see the “phenomenal reach” that is promised to would be subscribers.”
EWAN: The current form of MIR ends next week. The client doesn't want the community. They want reports, they want a bit of news and analysis, they want some sit down video interviews. They don't want MIR in it's current form.

“There are a number of other questions running around my head mostly to do with the viability of the subscription strategy and Ewan’s ability to deliver but that can wait for another post methinks.”
EWAN: My ability to deliver? Alas, the failure point was mine for assuming (and quite possibly delving in to that horrible, horrible no man's land of 'hoping') that the industry — or the readers, working for huge, huge budget-rich companies — would value our output enough to help out now and again. That's where I got it wrong, so I accept any criticism you'd care to level at me in this regard.

Just in case you're not quite there with the reality — can I draw your attention to the post asking for assistance to help take the team to CTIA in Las Vegas. The first time I've really ever asked for support. Having spent upwards of, I don't know, 60k this year inc. Mobile World Congress, I thought, 'surely, surely someone or a few companies will help out.'

I got 11 responses to the post within 48 hours. Every single one said words to the effect of, 'sorry, no budget to help out, but could the team interview us on camera?'

So when you allude to the support, goodwill and such of the MIR community, we have to be very, very clear — British Airways won't accept that in return for flights. That's the reality and I had to operate within it.

To your points on the subscription strategy, Barney, the transaction works fully with one subscriber, no further subscribers are required. So in that context I'm pleased that it's a done deal, I can relax, I can stop spending so much money and so much unpaid time on MIR. If in 3 years time, the client is unwilling to renew, then I'll stop providing a service.

Your comments relating to James and/or Jonathan heading off to the Cayman Islands with their proceeds — well, that would be just phenomenal if I'd done a deal to sell MIR to News Corporation for $500m and hired the entire team on $10m 3-year talent contracts. I'd have loved to have been able to do so. Alas that isn't anywhere near the case.

Somebody has to pay. It was me — and I reached the end of 'reasonable' and found an exit. Don't forget the MIR team who also helped produce the site — don't forget that they were gracious enough to accept expenses and/or contribute their time for no direct recompense. I think your efforts on-going would be better served in thanking them for their efforts and supporting their next projects.

I'll be posting a note to this effect, in more detail, later on.

Ach, this whole business-model-thing for PR/Ad revenue for sites like MIR is as broken as the one for financial analysts who shout 'BUY' 95% of the time, until it turns to crap then it's 95% 'SELL'. My 7-year old can do that.

What company's gonna invest serious cash in a vehicle that may promote the competition and bag your own gear? When you have a hundred gadget blogs dead keen to review your new schwag, why pay?

Who benefits from the straight talk? We the consumers. Is there a model reliant on us to get value by contributing cash? Nope. Proved that myself last week.

Yes, a few PR budgets could have funded MIR, but convincing the PR advisors that is a good idea is like asking the chicken to suggest a good axe shop nearby. They will always say “nah, stick with us and we'll find someone who's free”.

/m

I did; the sales house did the best South… everyone they spoke to was always interested, but not interested enough to help continue to support substantially.

I'm completely taken aback by the tone of some of these posts! Some people seem to imply that they have some sort of ownship or stake in MIR and that they deserve a say in its future. Using terms like 'sell out' must surely have Ewan hopping mad!
Quite staggering.
Good luck Ewan, hope you sell out and make a fortune.

Dear fellow MIR readers,

On behalf of all of us, good luck to Ewan as he embarks on his new venture.

In less than 10 days time there will be no way for any of us to stay in contact, to continue discussing the mobile industry or cross-promote each others services and products. As Ewan and his new paymaster don't seem to have any desire or need to keep this group of readers together, it seems we need to say a final goodbye,… or find an alternative means of communicating and networking.

Initially we have 9 days so need something temporary to group all our names and contact details together. Going forward maybe there is something fancier we can do.

I am not going to put forward a mechanism yet as I would like to see if there are any backers and also to get a response from Ewan on such a concept.

steve/iTAGG

yeah that seems about right to me too. Trouble is, many of us are in this industry as a business not a hobby; and we came to rely on this hobbyist blog as a proper business tool. I guess that was our mistake and it will teach us a few things about choosing our business/marketing/pr tools in future.

As per njar's comment, the MoMo Group is pretty good Steve, that might be one alternative. Or go ahead and setup a group?

Also: If you still wanted to discuss this, I'm on 07769 658104 — except not today as I left that one in a client office. But get me on IM ewanmacleod@hotmail.com or ewanmacleod@gmail.com

Hi there, I'm a software developer focused on mobile apps & SaaS researching some trends when I found your site. I like to content and was about to subscribe, when I saw this announcement.

Congrats on the acquisition .. but it looks like the price will be a deterrent for me. If your product manager is paying attention to this thread, do add a +1 to your “loss prospect” list.

£12k?

Joking right?

Sod that. IMHO No website is worth a subscription.

Shame, used to enjoy the site.

Have fun.