Weekly NMD Story...

Metro website traffic soars by a third as mobile revamp pays off. Site's daily browsers rise to 737,176 in September, as Mirror network loses many of gains made after launch of Sun paywall...

Metro website: had a mobile-friendly redesign in January

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/oct/24/mobile-website-traffic-mobile-revamp

The free newspaper 'Metro' has reported the third in daily and monthly website browsers in September as it's redesigned mobile presence paid off. The site reported a 33.38% leap in daily browsers in September to 737,176 according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. The monthly browsers rose to 32.19% as the redesign of the mobile presence and social media referrals increased. "I'd attribute the increase to a team dedicated to delivering a great user experience through both technology and content," said Metro's chief customer officer, Dominic Rowell. "The initial catalyst was the mobile-first redesign in December 2012 which has led to an audience increase of 177% since January. During this period, mobile audience has increased by 225% and social media referrals have gone up fivefold – which we attribute to the improved user experience as well as a focus and frequent promotion of socially-shareable content designed with mobile and our urban audience in mind." After Rupert Murdoch introduced a website paywall the proportion of readers started to decrease as the Sun newspaper online hunted for a new digital home which was a disadvantage to them as the Metro attracted the audience more. 

- The Trinity Mirror network of national newspaper websites – which includes Mirror.co.uk, 3am.co.uk and MirrorFootball.co.uk – saw daily browser numbers fall 13.2% month on month in September to 1,502,979. Monthly browser numbers fell 9.57% to 34,416,732.

- This compares with MGD's pre-Sun Online pay wall figures of 1.45 million daily browsers and 29.75m monthly browsers in July.

- Daily Mail & General Trust's Mail Online is a whisker away from passing the 150 million monthly browser mark, with a 6.2% increase over August pushing numbers to 146,233,786 in September. Daily browser numbers rose 5.4% to 9,490,332.

- Independent.co.uk had a solid month, with daily browsers up 6.6% on August to 1,380,673, and monthly browsers up 7.75% to 29,770,594.

- Telegraph.co.uk rose 2.96% in daily browser number terms to 3,200,388; monthly browsers increased 4.49% to 63,061,086.

- Guardian News & Media's website network, theguardian.com, increased its daily browser figure by 1.78% month on month to 4,600,140; its monthly figure shrank slightly by 0.48% to 83,116,532.

Mail Online

Daily average browsers: 9,490,332

Month-on-month change: +5.4%

Year-on-year change: +49.06%

Monthly browsers: 146,233,786

Month-on-month change: +6.2%

Year-on-year change: +44%

Theguardian.com

Daily average browsers: 4,600,140

Month-on-month change: +1.78%

Year-on-year change: +26.61%

Monthly browsers: 83,116,532

Year-on-year change: +27.22%

Telegraph.co.uk

Daily average browsers: 3,200,388

Month-on-month change: +2.96%

Year-on-year change: +19.42%

Monthly browsers: 63,061,086

Month-on-month change: +4.49%

Year-on-year change: +22.67%

I think the Metro newspaper online is doing very well in terms of audience as they have audiences subscribing to them as a free provider. The online version has redesigned their mobile presence and improved their site with more social stories attracting a large demographic making them more popular. The sun newspaper have lost audiences as Rupert Murdoch has introduced a paywall for it's subscribers which could be a negative point to some audiences whereas a working class audience would be able to afford the paywall everyday. Most audience would like their news free therefore would subscribe to a free provider than paying for one such as a young audience who would like to get free things.

Weekly NMD Story...

BBC iPlayer: viewers ditch computers for tablets and mobiles, Growing popularity of portable devices highlighted by figures that also reveal the mobile app has been downloaded 20m times...

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/oct/24/bbc-iplayer-computers-tablets-mobiles

Tablets and smartphones have overtaken computers for the first time in September with 70 million requests of viewing BBC shows on iPlayer. Mobile and tablet users request for BBC TV programmes on iPlayer rather than their computers as figures show 41% of the 176m requests the the programmes. "With tablets at the top of many people's Christmas list for 2013, we expect this to continue to grow even further," said the head of BBC iPlayer, Dan Taylor. iPlayer has become more usable on tablets and smartphones as its easier to take around, it has also attracted audiences onto the player at 10pm as they like to catch up with their favourite shows at night. Moreover some audiences use there smartphones to watch thier programmes they have missed as they are going to work, it lets audiences use their time when it suits them, instead of rushing home to watch the programmes. The iPlayer was not as popular three years ago however technology has developed such as the tablets and smartphones allowing audiences to upgrade which increases the requests of audiences using iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer: requests for programmes by device type. Photograph: BBC

The image above shows the increase in smartphones and tablets which are being used for BBC iPlayer. The requests to view TV programmes on tablet devices have grown 250% in a year which is also the same as mobile phone devices. The level of iPlayer requests via TV sets offering on-demand viewing via services such as BSkyB, YouView, Virgin Media and BT, have stayed stable as the years go. The BBC said that there has been a total of 20m downloads of the BBC iPlayer mobile app for Apple and Android devices. "Twenty million downloads of the BBC iPlayer mobile app marks a golden age of public service television," said the head of TV content for BBC iPlayer, Victoria Jaye. "It cements iPlayer's role as BBC television's fifth channel, enabling audiences to fit their enjoyment of the full range of BBC programmes around their busy lives."

- Tablets accounted for 43 million of the 70m requests to portable devices, well ahead of mobiles on 27m despite the ubiquity of smartphones.

- TV shows on tablet devices have grown 250% in a year.
- The only platform on which the iPlayer is available to see a decline in viewing requests is computers, down from 70m to 58m in a year, a 17% decline.

I think new technology has impacted audiences lives as we are using tablets and smartphones more than computers or laptops. The use of this technology has become very popular for all demographics as a younger audience could use it for education and a older audience could use the devices for work purposes. It has become one of the most increasing devices across the world and most people use it for entertainment such as catching up on their TV programmes, watching movies or accessing work. It is a easier device to carry around as its small whereas a computer or laptop would be harder to take around.

Comments on NDM blogs...

NDM: Facebook loosens privacy restrictions to allow under-18s to post globally by Navneet 

- I agree with Navneet's opinion about the Facebook changes becoming more global is dangerous towards a younger audience as strangers or even paedophiles could access background information about them, therefore they would need to be careful what they post online. There have been many incidents due to social networking sites such as the 'Ask.fm' incident so I think users should be aware and be careful of who they talk to and post up.

Argos Launches £99 table to compete with Tesco Hudl by Gagandeep

- I think Gagan's opinion about the Argos Tablet is true as a large audience would be attracted to the device just like the new Tesco Hudl. As new technology has developed throughout the years, audiences are becoming fanatics of tablets now rather than using computers. It is a very popular device around the world and has become one of the most used devices by people, furthermore there are many different tablets introduced every year and more and more people are buying them as they are the latest trend in technology.

20 best Android apps this week by Gagan

- I agree with Gagan's statement as the audience should be able to give their own opinion about the game, it would help professionals to know whether to improve the game or not by users opinions. Moreover as most of the games are free on android I think they would be more successful as it would be played by an younger audience.

Web 2.0 Articles...

In the age of media 2.0 - six questions about media and participation:

David Buckingham, Professor of Media and Communications at Loughborough University makes a case about the boarder media revolution. He claims that the media is no longer controlled by large commercial organisations as the media has grown big, mostly referred to 'Web 2.0'. The media allows ordinary people to have their say and speak back to those in power, wikis enable us to collaborate and share knowledge in ways that challenge elites and experts; on social networking sites, we can represent ourselves and connect with other people in new ways; while online sharing sites like YouTube allow people to distribute their own media content to global audiences. However the disadvantage to this is leading to fundamental shifts in the operation such as audiences do not use 'old' media much for instant television, newspapers and books as they are able to get it online. In addition the 'Web 2.0' allows user generated content to allow citizen journalism and the empowerment of consumers by UGC. Moreover the new technology is not controlled therefore it could be dangerous to different demographic audiences, such as a young demographic audience could be in access to a social site talking to strangers that don't know off. Buckingham also claims that the largest corporation online is 'Google and Facebook' as a wide audience across the world use it, all sites online are controlled by the user as it is 'you' posting up personal details of yourself such as pictures videos, UGC and etc therefore gatekeepers are not the ones to blame for your responsibilities online.

Key Notes:
- The audience are in control of the new media and internet.

- User generated content has become a massive talk to citizen journalism.
- Users responsibility for online posts not gatekeepers.
- The internet is accessed by everyone.
- Has the new technology of media changed audiences?

Participation debates - media and democracy:

Democracy is where people are eligible to have an equal say in decision making therefore it is one of the biggest debates about the Web 2.0 and social networks. As user generated content has become the big talk for many audience to let their opinion out online it is equal to say the debate about democracy has a equal opportunity for some online sites such as 'YouTube'. Moreover blog sites are accessible to everyone in the world to see therefore you have no control over the internet. Audiences were not able to get their opinion or views across to others, however now hence of user generated content citizen journalism has become very popular for every to post their views online social networking sites to get across to everyone. The internet has empowered users by giving intermediated access to nearly a large audience of different demographics. Therefore children from a very young age are already aware of the new technology out there and would be likely to own a device. An example of democracy is the Egypt and Libya war, if there was no internet or user generated content the world would not be aware of the events happening around the world, citizen journalism gives us most of the reliable news as the footage is realistic therefore is traditional journalism dead as most news do not use it any more.

Key Notes:

- Citizen journalism provides us most of the news now, traditional news is dying.
- The internet is empowered by the audiences as they are in control more.
- User generated content allows citizen journalists and audiences to post their views/opinions online.
- Is traditional news dead?
- Equal say in decision making, everyone is eligible for their own opinion.

Web 2.0 - participation or hegemony?:

Nick Lacey explored the issue that has Web 2.0 been democratised our access to the media and has it switched the power from producer to the audience. Lacey claims we as users are able to be producers of media texts as new technology has developed allowing us to user generate content online such as on social networking sites, Blogs, YouTube etc. Editors and producers such as gatekeepers are not to be known as the professionals now as many sites are depending on the audiences 'users' who generate the site therefore the traditional of old media is dying. Some observers believe this has led to ‘dumbing down’ and ‘the cult of the amateur’

Key Notes:

- Gatekeepers are no longer needed.

- Users (audience) are becoming producers of sites.
- Is traditional of old media dead?

Weekly NMD Story...

Yes, Angry Birds Go! could knock Nintendo's Mario Kart off its perch...

Angry Birds Go! will be fully free-to-play for iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2013/oct/16/angry-birds-go-mario-kart

Rovio originally announced plans for Angry Birds Go! in June with a teaser animation published on YouTube.

Finnish firm Rovio has announced their first game "built from the ground up as a free-to-play title" called 'Angry Birds Go!' with revenues coming from app purchases and advertising. Moreover Rovio's ambitious cross platform launches on 11 December for iOS, Android, Windows 8 and blackberry 10 devices. The series of Angry Birds has always been free-to-play on Android therefore would be a successful popular game yet to come. The 'Angry Birds Go!' and 'Mario Kart' are the famous games to be released for 'Ninendo' fans which will be in competition, there are several reasons why this is: Firstly the 'Mario Kart' game isn't available on the billion-ish Android and iOS devices that are currently out there, so there's no direct competition here. Secondly the generation of the younger demographic audiences has grown, as 'Mario Kart' is also on DS or 3DS the younger audience would not have played the game as technology has developed therefore they would recognize 'Angry Birds' more as its available on smartphones or tablets which nearly everyone has. For example they would be able to access the game on  Tesco Hudl, Amazon Kindle Fire, Argos MyTablet etc.

- British telecoms regulator Ofcom's recent Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes report: 42% of British 5-15 year olds now use a tablet, 23% of them play games on it.

- That's still less than the 60% of 5-15 year olds using a dedicated handheld games device, percentage has fallen from 69% in 2012.

Ofcom's stats comparing devices that children use to play games at home

I personally think the game will be very successful as it's most played by a younger demographic and will be a challenger for its rivals game 'Mario Kart'. Moreover the teaser trailer was an excellent idea has it was to designed to attract and excite the audience which is what Rovio wants, moreover the game has many series therefore the audience are already aware of the game would kind of feature such as the main characters and graphics. Lastly one final point on the risks for Rovio, is that 'Angry Birds' has fans of all ages, but a lot of them are children, which is why going fully free-to-play has to be handled carefully by the company.

Weekly NMD Story...

Google takes down more than eight 'pirate' links every second...

Google took down 5.3m links to pirate content in the first week of September 2013 - just under nine every second. Photograph: Walter Bieri/AP

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/07/google-pirate-links-digital-revenue-copyright-holders

The famous well used search engine 'Google' has known to be one of the record breaking take downs of copyright materials from the last week of September, reaching up to 5,3 million allegedly infringing links. Between July and October 2012 copyright holders sent Google about 1.8 million link take down notices a week, increasing to 2.8 million a week in November 2012 and 3.8 million in mid-December 2012. However February 2013, take down notices hit 3.8 million a week, increasing to 4.47 million at the end of March, and finally peaking in the final week of September to 5.3 million spanning 37,413 domains from 5,407 copyright owners, which marked a 4008% increase over the first notice listings by Google in July 2011. The data below shows a significant rise in the number of take down notices filed by copyright holders to Google over the last year.

- July and October 2012 copyright holders sent Google about 1.8 million link take down notices a week

-  Increasing to 2.8 million a week in November 2012 and 3.8 million in mid-December 2012.

- February 2013, take down notices hit 3.8 million a week, increasing to 4.47 million at the end of March.

- Final week of September to 5.3 million spanning 37,413 domains from 5,407 copyright owners, which marked a 4008% increase over the first notice listings by Google in July 2011. 

I personally think as 'Google' is a big search engine used by an wide audience of different ages the engine is more likely to be used for searching copyright materials like the examples shown on the above image. Many young audiences use these copyright sites more than an older audience as they would want their information from reliable sources, whereas the younger audience wouldn't mind looking up copyright information. However blocking these copyright sites would not effect 'Google' in any way as they wouldn't be losing an large audience as the search engine is very popular and used most commonly by everyone around the world.

UGC & Citizen Journalism...

What impact are these changes having on:

Citizen and Journalism have an impact on News stories as people are creating their own footage on their mobile phones, cameras etc (UGC) which is broadcasted onto the internet such as social networking sites 'Youtube', 'Facebook'. This allows a large audience to view the videos posted online before an actual News channel broadcasts it, it also allows the audience to see the news footage from an actual persons point of view as they were there at the time of the event. For an example of a natural disaster like the tsunami was unexpected, therefore any citizen and journalist would have recording footage on their phones or cameras to allow the audience around the world to show them what's going on and have witnessed the event, whereas the News would take professional footage of the event which doesn't really show the actual story to the event as it has been professionally recorded for News viewers to see.

Moreover the News agenda...

The role of professionals in news have been impacted in the changes of citizen and journalism...