Shiny Who?

Ashley Norris, former co-founder of early UK blog network Shiny Media wrote a guess post on TechCrunchUK entitled “Why blog publishing ‘failed’ in the UK”. Trashing oh sorry discussing why blog publishing houses are failing in the UK.

He noted six reasons why it’s difficult for UK blogging networks to succeed.

1. Limited number of UK online eyeballs
2. Lack of imagination in the ad industry
3. Lack of UK media entrepreneurs
4. Lack of VC support
5. Too much competition
6. The omnipotent BBC

Wait a minute, the omnipotent BBC? Why is he blaming the BBC? Well as an example he claims if the BBC didn’t have a huge online football offering then one of its more notable blogs in terms of traffic whoateallthepies.tv would have more visitors.

Somebody queue the violins. Ashley take note, if you don’t provide the content your not going to have the eyeballs. As an Arsenal supporter myself I consume my content in two places, Sky sports and the small but independent Arsenal Mania because they both provide great content.

When I go to whoateallthepies the content is terrible, the design hurts my eyes, and the news is out of date. How they claim this to be one of the most read football blogs in the world I don’t know. I’ve never heard of it or heard people talk about it.

You know Shiny Media reminds me of a supermarket. Instead of focusing on their core product they try to be everything all at once. Of course this works for Tescos but you’re not Tescos you’re a blog. Stop trying to be everything for everyone, people like variety but not too much variety.

Perhaps Shiny Media should spend less time monetising their network and more time developing great content. You know like breaking news before anyone else does that sort of thing.

Maybe if they did that everything else would fall into place but one thing is for certain the BBC have nothing to do with it so quit your whining.

Photo Credit: Nimbu Pani