3 ms·

IPad mag app Zite to be acquired by CNN with a $20-25M pricetag

22 points by bond 15y ago

tchock23 15y ago
I'm a huge fan of the Zite app. In fact, it's one of the only apps I use on my iPad. I'm surprised at the $20-$25M price tag (assuming that is what it sells for). Not sure how you would monetize something like this, although I gladly would have paid something for it.
- rjd 15y ago
  If I was in charge of the strategy of it I wouldn't monetise the app directly, I'd probably work on a click through model. Tempt people to open full articles laden with paid ads. Try and push targetted content. But alas the content on Zite was part of its charm, so it will probably ruin it :/ I'd rather pay a few dollars and have the same content.
deyan 15y ago
Quite disappointing to hear that they didn't swing for the fences - especially given that Zite was doing well, is arguably better than Flipboard, and news consumption is a major use case for tablets in general.
- canistr 15y ago
  Agreed. I much prefer Zite's no-nonsense (e.g. no gimmick) approach to news-reading as well as their strategy for personalization via thumbs-ups, thumbs-downs, categories, and even specific journalists/bloggers. There's a lot of room for growth on their own and I'm afraid of how CNN will alter what is already a good product. And I'm saying this as someone who does not enjoy using the CNN app.
- jbail 15y ago
  Swing for the fences? I'd say they swung for the fences and knocked it out the park. The app is great and it doesn't surprise me to see them get acquired. $25 million ain't chump change and it's definitely well deserved.
  - deyan 15y ago
    Respectfully and realizing it is all relative, $25M is not swinging for the fences. By a very long shot. It is a great outcome for them certainly, but not swinging for the fences.
kwis 15y ago
Congrats to the Zite team. You made one of my favorite apps, and whether you continue development at CNN or move on to other ventures, I wish you the best and look forward to seeing what you do next. Zite is one of the most used apps on my iPad, and has been for ages. I would've happily given you a few dollars for it, but I guess this worked out well for everyone.
bstar77 15y ago
I think I use Zite more than any other app on my iPad. I just removed Pulse after realizing Zite suited me much better. Not crazy having CNN owning the app, I'll have to see if the sources and quality changes. If I see one CNN article loaded inappropriately the app is gone.
- rjd 15y ago
  Yep exactly the same boat as you. My heart sank a little when I read the head line, I hope the quality stays in place. I still use pulse for visual stuff and high traffic blogs (like engadget doign a hundred articles a day). But Zite was right on the money for me, and no gimicky crap like flipboard. That false page turning rubbish ruined the immersion for me.

22 points by bond 15y ago

I'm a huge fan of the Zite app. In fact, it's one of the only apps I use on my iPad. I'm surprised at the $20-$25M price tag (assuming that is what it sells for). Not sure how you would monetize something like this, although I gladly would have paid something for it.

rjd 15y ago
If I was in charge of the strategy of it I wouldn't monetise the app directly, I'd probably work on a click through model. Tempt people to open full articles laden with paid ads. Try and push targetted content. But alas the content on Zite was part of its charm, so it will probably ruin it :/ I'd rather pay a few dollars and have the same content.

deyan 15y ago

Quite disappointing to hear that they didn't swing for the fences - especially given that Zite was doing well, is arguably better than Flipboard, and news consumption is a major use case for tablets in general.

canistr 15y ago
Agreed. I much prefer Zite's no-nonsense (e.g. no gimmick) approach to news-reading as well as their strategy for personalization via thumbs-ups, thumbs-downs, categories, and even specific journalists/bloggers. There's a lot of room for growth on their own and I'm afraid of how CNN will alter what is already a good product. And I'm saying this as someone who does not enjoy using the CNN app.
jbail 15y ago
Swing for the fences? I'd say they swung for the fences and knocked it out the park. The app is great and it doesn't surprise me to see them get acquired. $25 million ain't chump change and it's definitely well deserved.
- deyan 15y ago
  Respectfully and realizing it is all relative, $25M is not swinging for the fences. By a very long shot. It is a great outcome for them certainly, but not swinging for the fences.

kwis 15y ago

Congrats to the Zite team. You made one of my favorite apps, and whether you continue development at CNN or move on to other ventures, I wish you the best and look forward to seeing what you do next. Zite is one of the most used apps on my iPad, and has been for ages. I would've happily given you a few dollars for it, but I guess this worked out well for everyone.

bstar77 15y ago

I think I use Zite more than any other app on my iPad. I just removed Pulse after realizing Zite suited me much better. Not crazy having CNN owning the app, I'll have to see if the sources and quality changes. If I see one CNN article loaded inappropriately the app is gone.

rjd 15y ago
Yep exactly the same boat as you. My heart sank a little when I read the head line, I hope the quality stays in place. I still use pulse for visual stuff and high traffic blogs (like engadget doign a hundred articles a day). But Zite was right on the money for me, and no gimicky crap like flipboard. That false page turning rubbish ruined the immersion for me.