• As Summer Ends, A Time to Say Thanks

    With September's start, the kids heading back to school and overnight lows in the chilly 40s here in the Boston area, it is time to recognize, reluctantly, that this unusually long (and wet!) summer is coming to an end. As many of you, like me, prepare to return to your "regular" routines, I'd like to pause and say a few words of thanks.

    First, a huge thanks to VideoNuze's many thousands of readers who give purpose to my daily work. Nearly two years since launching VideoNuze, readership continues to build, with over 9,000 industry participants now receiving the daily VideoNuze email and over 100,000 unique visitors coming to the web site each month. I'm delighted at how VideoNuze has found its place as a trusted source of analysis and news for many in the industry.

    This summer has been very productive: 82 analyses comprising almost 50,000 words, 490 industry news items posted to the site from over 25 sources and 11 podcasts with my partner Daisy Whitney. While other sites crank out a far greater quantity than VideoNuze, I'd like to think none offer higher quality. This summer I also managed to squeeze in a couple of consulting projects, 4 speaking engagements, 3 panels I moderated and a 10 day vacation in Israel. Last but not least, VideoNuze's next 2 events coming up in October took shape (registration for the Oct. 13th "VideoSchmooze" NYC event is now live). Whew!

    I always welcome readers' emails or calls, whether they're to agree or disagree with what I've written. Though I'm not a hound for compliments, I will admit that I greatly enjoy the emails I receive saying things like, "Thanks for the consistently high quality analysis," "Just wanted to say how useful VideoNuze has been here in the U.K." "Your stuff is consistently enlightening" or "I enjoy your writing and the thoughtfulness your perspective brings to what is typically an over-hyped and under-analyzed topic."

    These types of emails help answer some variant of a question I've been asked more than any other in the past two years: "How the hell do you churn this thing out every single day?!" Beyond the pat answer that "every job requires a certain discipline," the real explanation is that for me, VideoNuze is what Malcolm Gladwell, in his superb third book, "Outliers," describes simply as "meaningful work." I love analyzing and writing about the technology and media industries and the change that broadband and mobile are bringing to the video landscape. It's painstaking yet intellectually stimulating to try putting the puzzle pieces together and gratifying to know I have a role in influencing how industry executives determine their strategies and execute their plans.

    Second, a huge thanks to VideoNuze's sponsors. From VideoNuze's original 8 charter sponsors, there have now been over 30 companies that have sponsored VideoNuze at one time or another. There isn't room to acknowledge them all, but I encourage you to visit the sponsors' page of the web site and to click through and learn more about each. Beyond the important technology and services each is offering to the industry, many also provide education in the form of free webinars, white papers, etc. As VideoNuze's traffic has grown, the value of sponsoring has as well. I've tried to keep rates reasonable, ensuring a strong ROI along many different metrics (as always, if you're interested in sponsoring VideoNuze, please contact me).

    Lastly, thanks to many partners who play a key role in VideoNuze's ongoing success. These include NATPE, The Diffusion Group, my fine overseas technology firm and several PR firms (e.g. Horn Group, Blue Point Venture Marketing, October Strategies) and design firms which have assisted with VideoNuze's events, along with my excellent general counsel (and lovely wife!). Thanks also to many in industry who have shared a particular statistic I've been in search of, or who have made an introduction to someone I was eager to speak to.

    I look forward to continuing to explore broadband and mobile video's future with all of you.