3 ms·

> They discontinue products that don't pan out and lose them money It seems they also discontinue products that make them money and continue products that lose

> They discontinue products that don't pan out and lose them money It seems they also discontinue products that make them money and continue products that lose them money. Their exchanges with the SEC [1] seem to suggest that YouTube loses money (otherwise why wouldn't they publish the numbers?), and if that becomes known public info, it may open them up to a host of legal and political problems. Regardless, if you discontinue products your customers are using, don't be surprised if your customers stop relying on your products. 1. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/28/sec_google_youtube/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/02/28/sec_google_youtube/

kgwgk 8y ago
> (otherwise why wouldn't they publish the numbers?) To prevent competitors, providers or customers from learning how profitable this particular business is. (Probably not the case here, but it’s an actual reason for companies to disclose as little as possible about their operations.)
- ashelmire 8y ago
  The issue is that publicly traded companies have a duty to shareholders to disclose this data and all companies have to follow antitrust laws. Which is why the SEC is trying to get this data. It’s pretty shady, but you’re right, it is a competitive advantage (breaking antitrust laws or disclosure laws is often advantageous... hence why the laws were written).
ben7799 8y ago
They discontinue stuff even if it makes money because it's a blip compared to ad revenue. Someone looks at a product like Chromecast Audio and decides it's not really helping ads so there's no point in spending money on maintenance for it, especially with the previously mentioned stuff that Google's corporate culture does not reward sustaining/maintenance/support work. If a money-losing product is have a positive effect on ads somehow it probably gets to live.

kgwgk 8y ago

> (otherwise why wouldn't they publish the numbers?) To prevent competitors, providers or customers from learning how profitable this particular business is. (Probably not the case here, but it’s an actual reason for companies to disclose as little as possible about their operations.)

ashelmire 8y ago
The issue is that publicly traded companies have a duty to shareholders to disclose this data and all companies have to follow antitrust laws. Which is why the SEC is trying to get this data. It’s pretty shady, but you’re right, it is a competitive advantage (breaking antitrust laws or disclosure laws is often advantageous... hence why the laws were written).

ben7799 8y ago

They discontinue stuff even if it makes money because it's a blip compared to ad revenue. Someone looks at a product like Chromecast Audio and decides it's not really helping ads so there's no point in spending money on maintenance for it, especially with the previously mentioned stuff that Google's corporate culture does not reward sustaining/maintenance/support work. If a money-losing product is have a positive effect on ads somehow it probably gets to live.