"The Internet may not be doing so great on Wall Street, but it's doing great on Main Street. As far as the people who are online, they're using it more and valuing it more." For consumers, that may be a good thing. But for media companies looking to the Internet for profits, it remains a frustrating reality. The "digital revolution" that many traditional media executives were convinced would topple them or make them rich has not materialized. In part, that is because the Internet has turned out to be more of a souped-up telephone than a delivery vehicle for media and entertainment. The most far-reaching impact lies in the rhythms and habits formed by daily use of the Web's interactive features. "This is an audience that wants to make their own schedules." "The move from passive to a more active paradigm in consumer behavior is where the new media has had the greatest impact. "The media ... is very good at satisfying generic interests but isn't good at satisfying each individual's very unique, specific interest." People will like the Internet even more, once they're getting nearly-free very-high-speed access in the home and on the road. And if you're counting, in the US we've only got 19 or so more bankruptcies to go ... |