Faster Than You Think

Some random media catch-ups. Hulu is now the platform of choice for three of the four networks -- ABC/Disney gets an ownership share like NBC and Fox for joining up. That's a shot against YouTube, but not a terrible blow. In fact, it may be a blessing in disguise. YouTube is the home of the social video community, and if it gets professionalized by picking up ABC (or maybe CBS), it would be changed and perhaps begin to lose its identity.

With ABC bringing its content on-line in a slightly advertising supported, very free to the end user experience, it will become harder and harder for people to argue that subscription base will work in the near-term future.

Meanwhile, MLB's on-line app for iPhone has reportedly topped $1 million in sales. Who said you can't sell stats -- excuse me, DATA -- to fans? Couple it with audio and video streams, and you got the holy trinity. Now, who'll be the first to do that in college . . .

Related rumor puts MLB's Advanced Media division thinking about an on-line newspaper. Kind of beats Mark Cuban's let's subsidize the beat reporters from the NBA office scheme to the punch. Or does it bode well for theories espoused in this space and other colleges, notably our friends at Wisconsin, of a Fan First approach to bring all the news to our followers? It has certainly worked already for MLS -- primarily because in many markets the American soccer league couldn't get the local media to give regular beat coverage. Hmm, sounds like women's college soccer or volleyball, where the only "newspaper" is the university website . . .

Recovering Journalist has a very detailed post today regarding the plan of one newspaper-television station to reinvent itself and survive. It is a must read.

Last of all, Daily Reville catches up with the interview I had gosh, what seems like two weeks ago. Good to hear the NCAA compliance folks and I were on the same page that as long as coaches don't cross the established lines of personalizing recruiting communication to a specific recruit that there is nothing wrong with Twitter.