4 ms·
There is a reason why we don’t have any VC investments in the media, or for that matter, in the content creation on the internet. The reason is because Google a
by mudil 8y ago
There is a reason why we don’t have any VC investments in the media, or for that matter, in the content creation on the internet. The reason is because Google and FB monopolized search, advertising, and more importantly, surveillance of individuals. So, the website that caters clinical information to doctors competes with Candy Crush, because doctors get served relevant ads on games, etc.
In the early days of internet, we had plethora of new media networks. No more. The same with science websites, smart websites for children, hobby websites, etc etc. Big tech is killing content on the internet, and instead we have fake news controversies and privacy scandals.
This is very serious stuff for society and democracy and knowledge.
PS https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/28/tech-monopolies-are-killing-journalism-ocasio-cortez-says.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/28/tech-monopolies-are-killing-...
Edit. Think about it: Google and FB have 80% share of the ad market, and they actually don’t create the content. The rest 20% goes to all the publishers from the entire world.
- throwaway427 8y agoWho is "we"? There are tons of VC investments in media.
- mudil 8y agoOk, which ones? Give me examples.
- throwaway427 8y agoThe Athletic, Gimlet, Cheddar, Scroll, Piano, Tastemade...
- drdeadringer 8y agoOut of these, I have heard of only Gimlet Media and that's because I'm neck deep into podcasts.
- nopriorarrests 8y agoNo, they are drying up quite quickly. Consider this: ---cut--- For the media industry, with the investment group shutting down, one of the biggest backers of digital media companies over the past decade has backed out. “What are the bets being made in publishing and content companies and ad tech right now?” said a former executive at a company that was invested in by Time Warner Investments. “There’s zero. It’s just not happening.” [1] ---cut--- And it makes sense, tbh. Most of such investment failed - mashable, mic, buzzfeed, huffpost. Problem is, it seems that media just does not produce unicorns which will allow you to pay for failed investments. [1] https://digiday.com/media/warnermedia-shuts-investment-arm-that-backed-mashable-maker-studios-others/ https://digiday.com/media/warnermedia-shuts-investment-arm-t...