Comments on: ESPN: The worldwide leader in selling ads solo?

By: Christine Schoultz

Christine Schoultz — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:39:39 +0000

As Vice President of Marketing at Specific Media, I felt compelled to submit a brief clarification regarding the reference to the ESPN Specific Media relationship. Specific Media has not had a business relationship with ESPN since 2005. The statements the Mediaweek writer made regarding ESPN recently dropping Specific Media are simply not true. Our two organizations have not even spoken about doing business together at all in the past few years. It is unfortunate that this Mediaweek article was reprinted considering the inaccuracy of this information.

By: Hitchhiker's Guide to 650

Hitchhiker's Guide to 650 — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:30:54 +0000

Whats Not to Like About Selling Pork Bellies…

I just spent the last 2 hours scouring the web on anything I could find on the first shoe to drop since Wenda Harris Millard warned the whole indsutry at the most recent IAB “We must not trade our advertising inventory like pork bellies..” Thats …

By: John G

John G — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:25:53 +0000

I think the Quinturas and Quigos of the world have the right model as white label service providers to these guys.. sit in between google and adnets and just help publishers better monetize.. this is the space i would look at to innovate in as a startup

By: ESPN.com abandons ad networks | Thinking Interactive

ESPN.com abandons ad networks | Thinking Interactive — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:40:15 +0000

[...] interesting article posted by MG Siegler on Venture Beat regarding ESPN abandoning the use of ad networks prompts Venture Beat to question their need for [...]

By: MG Siegler

MG Siegler — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:05:27 +0000

@Jay – I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see sites of ESPN’s size and potentially a bit smaller do this. I agree with your line of thinking that’d it might be foolish not too if they can keep that much more of their revenue. Of course, just as with big music acts leaving labels, it likely wouldn’t work too well with smaller sites.

By: Jay Parkhill

Jay Parkhill — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:54:00 +0000

If ESPN can do this, why would it need to stop with its own properties? As long as the commission rates are high enough, what’s to stop it from being the biggest vertical ad network among all sports sites?

And if they can do it, could the New York Times do it too? When online ad revenue is so low compared to print revenue, and with few other viable revenue models in sight, would they be foolish not to try?

I’ve never worked in journalism so I’m just guessing at some ideas. I’d love to hear thoughts from experts in the field (hint hint).

By: Startup Toolbox » Blog Archive » ESPN: The worldwide leader in selling ads solo? » VentureBeat

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:47:32 +0000

[...] ESPN: The worldwide leader in selling ads solo? » VentureBeat [...]

By: MG Siegler

MG Siegler — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:18:49 +0000

@adam – great point, not only is ESPN a behemoth in itself, but when it has one of the largest media companies as a parent, there is not much risk for them. That is the key, the move so far only seems like it will really make sense for huge players such as in this case.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:07:52 +0000

The key is that ESPN is actually not alone. They leverage a larger sales/ads department of Disney.

By: Yakov

Yakov — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:27:31 +0000

That’s indeed very good news! It is yet another proof that there is a strong market opportunity for Quintura that easily creates a site search cloud and then helps publisher like ESPN to monetize the site search/navigation much more efficient by selling brand graphical ads in the search cloud.