> Print was completely unbundled and commoditized by the Google and Facebook Super Aggregators.
Interesting to see some Substack authors countering this trend by re-bundling their products. Notably: https://everything.substack.com/
2020 Bundles
11–20 of 70 posts
Re: 2020 Bundles
#12> The problem is that Apple’s financing programs — both the one pictured above, and also the iPhone Upgrade Program — continue to be funded by 3rd-parties; Apple is making it easier to buy an iPhone, but is still focused on getting its money right away. And, as long as it sticks with this approach, its Apple One bundle feels more like a money-grab, and less like a strategic driver of the business.
To me, I see this as a finance play. Since rates are near zero (and will be for some time), you can effectively leverage your revenues on both ends: servicing debt and factoring accounts receivable.
Since Apple's customers are usually high income buyers, the AR ratings are already high, combined with low rates, means Apple gets 95%+ of the revenues up front. I'm not sure what period for the new subscriptions they have (whether its a quarterly or annual period), but whatever it is, it's genius.
Re: 2020 Bundles
#13It's honestly been amazing to see the utter decimation traditional television/media has encountered over the last decade.
An entire generation of kids is growing up without ever having watched TV thanks to Youtube and Twitch.
Re: 2020 Bundles
#14> The problem is that Apple’s financing programs — both the one pictured above, and also the iPhone Upgrade Program — continue to be funded by 3rd-parties; Apple is making it easier to buy an iPhone, but is still focused on getting its money right away. And, as long as it sticks with this approach, its Apple One bundle feels more like a money-grab, and less like a strategic driver of the business. To me, I see this a…
surprisingly, the apple card has ended up being a subprime card (https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-card-reportedly-approv...) and they unveiled the credit steps program to approve more low credit score customers, which is definitely not the customer demo i anticipated flocking to the card
Re: 2020 Bundles
#15It's honestly been amazing to see the utter decimation traditional television/media has encountered over the last decade. An entire generation of kids is growing up without ever having watched TV thanks to Youtube and Twitch.
To be fair, there were only ever like 4 generations in the history of the world that grew up watching TV. Interesting to think about!
Re: 2020 Bundles
#16> The problem is that Apple’s financing programs — both the one pictured above, and also the iPhone Upgrade Program — continue to be funded by 3rd-parties; Apple is making it easier to buy an iPhone, but is still focused on getting its money right away. And, as long as it sticks with this approach, its Apple One bundle feels more like a money-grab, and less like a strategic driver of the business. To me, I see this a…
surprisingly, the apple card has ended up being a subprime card ( https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-card-reportedly-approv... ) and they unveiled the credit steps program to approve more low credit score customers, which is definitely not the customer demo i anticipated flocking to the card
Wow, that's shocking. Thanks for the info.
I wonder if that's a GS element in the contract, if less than X number of primes (or some metric on the campaign), then we reserve right for sub.
Re: 2020 Bundles
#17Hadn't considered how microsoft purchasing a major games studio might affect steam ? so yeah likely microsoft is the dark horse. at $15 for game pass, folks might all together forgo buying some titles on steam. me though hardly a gamer will stick to buying discounted games.
He makes a bold assertion though that Microsoft will include new AAA titles from its various properties in Game Pass from day 1. I find that very doubtful, and so Steam's purpose will continue to be selling games for the first ~6 months of their release cycle (when the bulk of sales anyways happpen).
Re: 2020 Bundles
#18How do smaller products compete with bundling from these large competitors?
As he Reed Hastings says in the posted quote:
"There are thousands of competitors in this highly-fragmented market vying to entertain consumers and low barriers to entry for those with great experiences."
Focusing on a better experience is one way.
Re: 2020 Bundles
#19Hadn't considered how microsoft purchasing a major games studio might affect steam ? so yeah likely microsoft is the dark horse. at $15 for game pass, folks might all together forgo buying some titles on steam. me though hardly a gamer will stick to buying discounted games.
He makes a bold assertion though that Microsoft will include new AAA titles from its various properties in Game Pass from day 1. I find that very doubtful, and so Steam's purpose will continue to be selling games for the first ~6 months of their release cycle (when the bulk of sales anyways happpen).
Day 1 releases is one of the main draws of Game Pass. The Game Pass marketing site [1] has an entire section labeled "Play Day One" that says
"Be among the first to play the latest titles from Xbox Game Studios and ID@Xbox, available to Xbox Game Pass members the same day as their global release."
Re: 2020 Bundles
#20> sports, meanwhile, is well on its way to being the only reason to keep the traditional bundle. Semi-side note but I feel this will go soon too. Amazon are starting to show sports, inclusive with Prime Video, in the UK.
I got Peacock Premium free with my Xfinity internet connection which has ~175 LIVE English Premier League matches streaming in USA. No need to now subscribe to NBC Sports!
Unfortunately they're trying to get you to subscribe to both Peacock and NBC Sports Gold. Most of the tops 6 teams matches going forward will be shown only occasionally on Peacock.