Mark Andreessen: NYT Should Shut Down Print Edition "as soon as possible".

[YankeeFan]

A throw away line, or something to consider?

In response to a question from the audience, Andreessen said the New York Times Co should shut down the print edition of its namesake newspaper "as soon as possible."

While the newspaper's potential audience is growing quickly due to factors such as the global rise of the middle class, he said the company should focus entirely on its digital offering.

"It's not that you can't make money in print newspapers," he said. "It's not that there aren't people who love them." But successfully dealing with transformative technology requires going "on 100 percent offense," he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/12/12/technology/12reuters-venture-andreessen-dealbook.html?hp

 

[Dick Whitman]

A couple years ago, I would have said he was insane.

Now, with the popularity of tablets, I'm in wait-and-see mode.

 

[Mark2010]

The real question is can you make money in an online only format. Not sure that you can.

 

[LongTimeListener]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

It sounds like a good idea but they would have to go in the red for a bit while luring advertisers. But I think Andreesen's point is more aimed at the ad dept, which has not adapted well in the industry. Even more than news, it's unfamiliar people trying to talk new technology that they don't really know.

Startup culture is all about being nimble and putting yourself at risk of failure. Necessity is the mother of invention, yada yada. Not newspaper culture for sure.

 

[Dick Whitman]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

Elderly people.

 

[Monday Morning Sportswriter]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

There are probably more than 100 people on a single block on the Upper East Side who subscribe to the NYT that don't have a tablet or smartphone.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I seriously doubt that. Not NYT readership market.

****, elderly people have a lot more tech in their lives these days.

 

[Versatile]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

Elderly people.

This. I can name at least four.

 

[Brian]

I read the Times on my tablet during the week and the Sunday Times in print when I have three hours in the morning to take it in. I could see this being the plan in the future.

 

[UNCGrad]

Just a question: If there were no newspapers printing - NONE - would there then be an abundance of ad revenue for an online-only edition?

 

[Boom_70]

What does Andreessen know , he voted for Romney. Hard to believe that the guy is only 41. He has accomplished so much already. Grew up in Cedar Falls Iowa. I guess the digital divide did not hurt him much.

As far as the Times going all digital the number one reason should be the environment. It would give a greater consistency to their sustainability message.

Think of the impact eliminating print edition would have on their environmental footprint.

Personally I have not read print edition for at least a year. Now read on my Kindle for $19.99 a month. So efficient I would never think of going back to hard copy.

Biggest issue to me would be loss of advertising dollars. No adds on Kindle edition.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Personally I have not read print edition for at least a year. Now read on my Kindle for $19.99 a month. So efficient I would never think of going back to hard copy.

Wow. And you get everything? I pay like $60 a month for the print edition.

 

[Boom_70]

Personally I have not read print edition for at least a year. Now read on my Kindle for $19.99 a month. So efficient I would never think of going back to hard copy.

Wow. And you get everything? I pay like $60 a month for the print edition.

yes - everything but the ads plus the on line archives- my kindle account links to NYT.com site.
Format is great and makes for much faster read. Each section has summary page with brief synopsis of stories. You can click on to read full article or just move on.

 

[Mark2010]

Just a question: If there were no newspapers printing - NONE - would there then be an abundance of ad revenue for an online-only edition?

Interesting question. Companies are going to advertise somewhere, so they'll try to find the most effective option. Whether that is online or TV or whatever, I don't know. I do know I have never purchased a single thing as a result of an online ad. I rarely even notice them.

 

[SoCalDude]

Andreessen should be locked in an octagon with the dude who bought Orange County and let 'em go two-out-of-three falls.

 

[typefitter]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

Elderly people.

Me.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Andreessen did invest in Digg, so not all of his online news bets have paid off.

 

[LongTimeListener]

NYT already gives print subscribers free digital access, yeah? Can't imagine there are more than a hundred people in the world who get the NYT print edition and don't have a tablet or smartphone.

Elderly people.

Me.

I said "people in the world," not "Canadians up in that weird land."

Regardless, OK, I guess I exaggerated my point too much, which is this: The NYT readership is a high-brow and high-money group. They've moved to technology. So the benefits of a print product are particularly low for them as opposed to probably most other papers.

 

[JayFarrar]

I understand risk and all but let's say I own a small business printing birthday cards and business isn't what it used to be but I'm still making money.

My cards are beautiful, unique and geared to my customers.

Should I continue my niche business and cater to my loyal clientele or should I dump every bit of brand I have to push a birthday card website that churns mostly generic crap because that isn't where the money is but because the money might be there in the future?

go!

 

[Captain Obvious]

I understand risk and all but let's say I own a small business printing birthday cards and business isn't what it used to be but I'm still making money.

My cards are beautiful, unique and geared to my customers.

Should I continue my niche business and cater to my loyal clientele or should I dump every bit of brand I have to push a birthday card website that churns mostly generic crap because that isn't where the money is but because the money might be there in the future?

go!

The problem is a lot of niche businesses don't have public shareholders to answer to. Investors in public companies want to see growth every quarter, no matter the cost.