https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jun/04/how-lego-clicked-the-super-brand-that-reinvented-itself
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Monday, May 22, 2017
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Thursday, May 4, 2017
ESPN is losing subscribers but it is still Disney’s cash machine
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21721664-sports-fans-are-producing-their-own-bootleg-highlights-espn-losing-subscribers-it
The problem, however, is that ever-fewer people are tuning in. The number of American homes paying to get ESPN has declined by more than 12m from a peak of 100m in 2011 (see chart). ESPN is not alone: consumers are broadly abandoning costly cable packages for online services from Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.
The problem, however, is that ever-fewer people are tuning in. The number of American homes paying to get ESPN has declined by more than 12m from a peak of 100m in 2011 (see chart). ESPN is not alone: consumers are broadly abandoning costly cable packages for online services from Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.
Fuel of the future ~ Data is giving rise to a new economy
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21721634-how-it-shaping-up-data-giving-rise-new-economy
Most important, the value of data is increasing. Facebook and Google initially used the data they collected from users to target advertising better. But in recent years they have discovered that data can be turned into any number of artificial-intelligence (AI) or “cognitive” services, some of which will generate new sources of revenue. These services include translation, visual recognition and assessing someone’s personality by sifting through their writings—all of which can be sold to other firms to use in their own products.
Most important, the value of data is increasing. Facebook and Google initially used the data they collected from users to target advertising better. But in recent years they have discovered that data can be turned into any number of artificial-intelligence (AI) or “cognitive” services, some of which will generate new sources of revenue. These services include translation, visual recognition and assessing someone’s personality by sifting through their writings—all of which can be sold to other firms to use in their own products.
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
From Colgate Lasagne to Crystal Pepsi: visit the Museum of Failure
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/shortcuts/2017/apr/19/museum-failure-samuel-west-sweden
Of course, not everyone is quite so keen to do a self-audit on their psychological flaws. Colgate refused to co-operate with West’s interest in the Colgate lasagne TV dinner. So West had to use his artistic side to reconstruct the box himself.
Of course, not everyone is quite so keen to do a self-audit on their psychological flaws. Colgate refused to co-operate with West’s interest in the Colgate lasagne TV dinner. So West had to use his artistic side to reconstruct the box himself.
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Watch it while it lasts: our golden age of television
https://www.ft.com/content/68309b3a-1f02-11e7-a454-ab04428977f9
A revolution in the way we watch has led to a creative renaissance in TV, from The Sopranos to Transparent
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A revolution in the way we watch has led to a creative renaissance in TV, from The Sopranos to Transparent
Friday, March 31, 2017
Friday, March 24, 2017
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
The Madridification of Barcelona: How Barca went from 'Més que un club' to just another global superbrand
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/03/08/madridification-barcelona-barca-went-mes-que-un-club-just-another/
Madrid discovered this. Now Barcelona are discovering it too. Some seasons they will win everything. Others they will win nothing. But as long as the club is run sensibly, even their years of failure will constitute relative success. Here again, the United model is instructive. On the pitch, it has been a pretty wretched few years: a teetering spiral of decline, degradation and David Moyes. Yet on the balance sheet, they have still managed to grow their revenue for 12 straight years in a row, Champions League or no Champions League. If this is failure, then every club in the world would love a piece of it.
Madrid discovered this. Now Barcelona are discovering it too. Some seasons they will win everything. Others they will win nothing. But as long as the club is run sensibly, even their years of failure will constitute relative success. Here again, the United model is instructive. On the pitch, it has been a pretty wretched few years: a teetering spiral of decline, degradation and David Moyes. Yet on the balance sheet, they have still managed to grow their revenue for 12 straight years in a row, Champions League or no Champions League. If this is failure, then every club in the world would love a piece of it.
Monday, March 6, 2017
From Hovis to Hollywood: how Ridley Scott and Britain's ad men reinvented the blockbuster
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/03/06/hovis-hollywood-ridley-scott-britains-ad-men-reinvented-blockbuster/
“We were considered to be somewhat bubble gum because we’d come from a commercial world and I was sensitive to that,” he says. “Ridley got clobbered too because his work was thought to be so dreadfully slick visually by critics of the time. What they didn’t realise was that what they were looking at was the greatest cinematic visual stylist of his age. I was affected by the criticsim and therefore I didn’t want to do commercials. Ridley had no such worries. He used to say “Oh, f___ them. Ask ’em how much money they make!”
“We were considered to be somewhat bubble gum because we’d come from a commercial world and I was sensitive to that,” he says. “Ridley got clobbered too because his work was thought to be so dreadfully slick visually by critics of the time. What they didn’t realise was that what they were looking at was the greatest cinematic visual stylist of his age. I was affected by the criticsim and therefore I didn’t want to do commercials. Ridley had no such worries. He used to say “Oh, f___ them. Ask ’em how much money they make!”
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