Comments on: How did the BBC lose a million US readers? http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/ This blog on media, society and technology is run by Professor Alfred Hermida, an award-winning online news pioneer, digital media scholar and journalism educator. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BBC nets paltry $3M in ad revenue | Gaffney3.com http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-622 BBC nets paltry $3M in ad revenue | Gaffney3.com Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:22:52 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-622 [...] How did the BBC lose a million US readers? [...] [...] How did the BBC lose a million US readers? [...]

]]> By: design http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-621 design Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:55:26 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-621 BECAUSE THE SHEEPLE ARE WAKING UP AND GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM ALEX JONES AND ABANDONING JEWOPOLIST PRO BIG GOVERNMENT MEDIA SOURCES SUCH AS THE BBC. BECAUSE THE SHEEPLE ARE WAKING UP AND GETTING THEIR NEWS FROM ALEX JONES AND ABANDONING JEWOPOLIST PRO BIG GOVERNMENT MEDIA SOURCES SUCH AS THE BBC.

]]> By: Steve Herrmann http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-620 Steve Herrmann Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:38:52 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-620 Alf - Hi again, Sorry for the delay in responding to your question about what our internal stats show on this. I turned for help to our stats team and what they say is that the drop-off you’ve highlighted isn’t reflected in some of the other metrics we have available. Where there have been decreases these have been during June and July, when website usage usually dips anyway, though the seasonal fluctuation last year might have been masked by the big interest in the Madeleine McCann story over that period. They also point out that there are always varying numbers for web stats depending on how they are collected and analysed, and that we are working with several external stat providers to ensure the data and classifications are as accurate as possible. On coverage - I agree we offer a different perspective on the election from US sites and that’s one of the reasons our US users come to us. We also aim to make the coverage accessible, relevant and engaging for the widest possible audience and that’s also, I believe, one of our strengths. Alf – Hi again,

Sorry for the delay in responding to your question about what our internal stats show on this. I turned for help to our stats team and what they say is that the drop-off you’ve highlighted isn’t reflected in some of the other metrics we have available. Where there have been decreases these have been during June and July, when website usage usually dips anyway, though the seasonal fluctuation last year might have been masked by the big interest in the Madeleine McCann story over that period. They also point out that there are always varying numbers for web stats depending on how they are collected and analysed, and that we are working with several external stat providers to ensure the data and classifications are as accurate as possible.

On coverage – I agree we offer a different perspective on the election from US sites and that’s one of the reasons our US users come to us. We also aim to make the coverage accessible, relevant and engaging for the widest possible audience and that’s also, I believe, one of our strengths.

]]> By: Alfred Hermida http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-619 Alfred Hermida Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:27:27 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-619 Thanks for the comment Steve. It is good to hear that you are continually working to improve the site, particularly with better presentation of audio and video at story level. US news sites all carry ads, but readers will expect this. Whereas I remember that one of the reasons often cited by readers for coming to the BBC was the lack of advertising. Now, I am not suggesting there is necessarily a correlation between a drop in audiences and advertising, but it is good to have a discussion around this issue. Do the BBC's own internal stats reflect a similar drop in US audiences? The fact that the BBC is a non-US news site could be used to the BBC's advantage in an election year. There was much interest in foreign coverage of the presidential elections last time round, especially from US readers seeking an alternative viewpoint. The BBC could aggressively market its coverage as offering a fresh perspective from one of the world's most trusted news sources. Thanks for the comment Steve. It is good to hear that you are continually working to improve the site, particularly with better presentation of audio and video at story level.

US news sites all carry ads, but readers will expect this. Whereas I remember that one of the reasons often cited by readers for coming to the BBC was the lack of advertising. Now, I am not suggesting there is necessarily a correlation between a drop in audiences and advertising, but it is good to have a discussion around this issue. Do the BBC’s own internal stats reflect a similar drop in US audiences?

The fact that the BBC is a non-US news site could be used to the BBC’s advantage in an election year. There was much interest in foreign coverage of the presidential elections last time round, especially from US readers seeking an alternative viewpoint. The BBC could aggressively market its coverage as offering a fresh perspective from one of the world’s most trusted news sources.

]]> By: Steve Herrmann http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Steve Herrmann Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:49:52 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-618 Alf, Leaving aside the specifics of the Nielsen year-on-year stats, I don’t think it necessarily follows that any drop in traffic to the BBC News website internationally is down to the introduction of advertising. We are hardly unique in having ads. And according to a recent independent audience appreciation benchmarking study ours are seen as less intrusive than most. The level of complaints about ads has been low, and we won a People’s Voice Webby this year for best News site. Meanwhile traffic to the site as a whole has continued to register healthy growth. That’s not to say though that we don’t recognise the challenge of staying relevant to our international audiences in key competitive markets such as the US. In an election year, any non-US news site catering for US users as part of its international audience has certainly got its work cut out. We're taking these challenges seriously and have embarked on a programme of changes – starting with changes to the look of the site earlier in the year and better presentation of audio and video at story level - and there is a lot more to come. Steve Herrmann Editor, BBC News website Alf,
Leaving aside the specifics of the Nielsen year-on-year stats, I don’t think it necessarily follows that any drop in traffic to the BBC News website internationally is down to the introduction of advertising. We are hardly unique in having ads. And according to a recent independent audience appreciation benchmarking study ours are seen as less intrusive than most. The level of complaints about ads has been low, and we won a People’s Voice Webby this year for best News site. Meanwhile traffic to the site as a whole has continued to register healthy growth. That’s not to say though that we don’t recognise the challenge of staying relevant to our international audiences in key competitive markets such as the US. In an election year, any non-US news site catering for US users as part of its international audience has certainly got its work cut out. We’re taking these challenges seriously and have embarked on a programme of changes – starting with changes to the look of the site earlier in the year and better presentation of audio and video at story level – and there is a lot more to come.

Steve Herrmann
Editor, BBC News website

]]> By: Carlos Alonso http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-617 Carlos Alonso Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:55:38 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-617 I'd rather trust my own analytics than nielsen's I’d rather trust my own analytics than nielsen’s

]]> By: Smarty http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Smarty Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:23:35 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-616 Right, like the other websites you mention don't have advertising... Right, like the other websites you mention don’t have advertising…

]]> By: » How did the BBC lose a million US readers? http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-615 » How did the BBC lose a million US readers? Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:25:38 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-615 [...] can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...] [...] can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]

]]> By: » Comment on How did the BBC lose a million US readers? by raerth http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-614 » Comment on How did the BBC lose a million US readers? by raerth Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:02:21 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-614 [...] can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...] [...] can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here [...]

]]> By: raerth http://www.reportr.net/2008/08/17/how-did-the-bbc-lose-a-million-us-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-613 raerth Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:36:18 +0000 http://reportr.wordpress.com/?p=761#comment-613 U.S. sites are all ad supported. The Presidential Elections are a big draw to American readers. Foreign news services would not cover this as much. U.S. sites are all ad supported.

The Presidential Elections are a big draw to American readers.

Foreign news services would not cover this as much.

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