February 8 |
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A Newspaper Tailor-Made for You
Source: Bangkok Post
Conventional Products Become E-Services
New technology is turning products into services. Examples include a twodoor refrigerator invented by Tesco, and a unit that connects the alarm clock with the Internet to check the latest information and wake you up at the same time.
Another interesting development is the e-book, which spreads information widely at almost no cost to the publisher. Almost all newspaper publishers have web sites and allow readers access to the content at no charge.
I enjoy reading famous novels on my Palm personal digital assistant (PDA). However, many readers still argue that reading on a PDA is eye torture. But reading from the computer screen is not much better and there is no mobility, unlike the conventional printed newspaper.
All around the globe, the newspaper is the most frequent daily purchase anyone will make. At least 500 million newspapers are read every day and an increasing number are read outside of the local market where they are published. The Internet is still not the answer for these readers.
My friend showed me a video prepared by DoComo that envisions the use of a thin plastic-based screen for people to read the newspaper from the Internet, connected by wireless phone. However, while we are waiting for the device to be feasible commercially, the new technology might help us improve the newspaper service.
How can the local newspaper keep pace and be available to its readers travelling around the globe at the same time as the paper is printed at home?
This question has been answered by a Canadian company, NewspapersDirect Co Ltd. Just skip the complicated, expensive and timeabsorbing distribution process. Move the newspapers digitally, rather then physically.
By harnessing the power of the Internet and satellite communication and by using the latest advances in digital printing technology, the licensed partners of NewspapersDirect have been given the capacity to print a daily newspaper on demand, anytime, anywhere.
I recently met Peter Lips, managing director of www.NewsToday.co.th (tel 01-743-9131). He is the licensee of the service in Thailand. Visiting his office on Sukhumvit Road impressed on me that we no longer need more than five employees to handle the newspaper production process.
Peter demonstrated how to extract the information and print the newspaper within seconds. The paper is printed an an A3 format that might be smaller than the original size. However, it covers the original content 100%. Peter even showed me that besides subscription fees from readers, his company could earn more money by inserting customised advertising in the paper. It is the first time that we can have a print ad especially for Portuguese people who stay in the Bang Na area, for example.
I also consider this to be a channel for local newspapers such the Bangkok Post and Thai Rath to expand their subscriber base at virtually no cost through a connection with the firm.
Peter told me that the newspapers could be obtained only from publishers that were contracted by NewspaperDirect. At the moment, there are about 100 different newspapers available in many different languages, from Japan, India, Europe including Russia, the United States and Canada.
Publishers worldwide have noticed and recognised the possibilities of this new distribution medium and the number of associated publishers is increasing rapidly. By the time the World Cup soccer tournament kicks off in Japan and Korea in May, most of the major newspapers are expected to be connected.
In Thailand, Peter aims to reach tourists and expats and is approaching guests at luxury hotels in Bangkok. Soon he will open branches in Pattaya, Phuket, Chang Mai and other centres. If the model is successful, it will be another stage in the evolution of the newspaper industry. One day we might even read the customised myBangkokPost or myThairath on paper.
Dr Arnat Leemakdej
Asst Prof Dr Arnat Leemakdej is associate director of the Masters in International Finance Programme, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University.
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