Browsers block ads, threaten free sites, researchers say

Nearly one in four browsers are armed with an ad-blocking tool, reducing revenue at free-content websites, an Irish company said last week. The popularity of ad blocking—driven by users' frustrations with intrusive, distracting or just-plain-ugly-and-noisy ads—threatens the free-for-all model of the Internet, said PageFair, a company that's helping content publishers audit the problem and try to stem some of the bloodletting. "It's a vicious cycle," said Neil O'Connor, CEO of Dublin-based PageFair. "Ads are becoming more aggressive to capture eyeballs, but that forces more people to install ad-blocking software. It's a lose-lose situation." But without ads and the revenue they generate, most content publishers cannot sustain operations. Sans ad revenue, the only options are to charge for access—the path taken by publishers like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times—or fold the tent. [Note: Computerworld and most IDG news sites rely on advertising for revenue.] To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2013-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #content publishers #vicious cycle

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Ello, the ad-free social network alternative to Facebook, launches mobile app

Ello's mobile app will hit the Apple App store Thursday, about eight months after the ad-free social network launched as an invite-only alternative to Facebook. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple's iOS 9 update will let you block ads

Life is about to get that little bit harder for digital publishers, thanks to Apple. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK ISPs to block eBook piracy sites

The UK's biggest broadband providers will shortly start blocking seven of the most popular websites used by eBook pirates. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK ISPs ordered to block ebook piracy sites

In a major victory for book publishers, the UK's High Court has ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block several sites offering pirated ebooks. The decision means that BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and EE now have 10 days to comply and e... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women's lifestyle site rides native-ad trend to the bank

During the past year, native advertising has gone from being the girl traditional publishers wanted to date but worried would hurt their reputation, to the trophy wife whom they always want by their... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2015-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Watch Closely as Adoption of Ad Blocking Tech Grows

Ad blocking technology presents a growing threat to digital publishers and ad-tech companies -- and they're starting to pay close attention.Ad blocking technology removes ads from the internet via a browser extension. There are a number of such extensions -- the two most notable being Adblock... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking

We aslked Dazed Group, News U.K., Mashable and Monrif Group what they think about the ominous subject of ad blocking. The post European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attempt to ban performing artist’s abuse memoir ‘threatens free speech’

Artist is appealing against temporary injunction obtained by his ex-wife, who says book will be distressing for his son to readAn attempt to prevent a performing artist from publishing his memoir on the grounds that its contents would be distressing for his son to read has opened up “a new,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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DRM-Free Site Humble Bundle Generated Over $4 Million in 2014

Over the last year, Humble Bundle, the promotional site that lets readers pay what they wish for bundles of DRM-free content, released 18 bundles that generated $4.75 million in revenue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Supreme court to rule whether ban on abuse memoir threatens free speech

Rights groups back challenge, claiming injunction on British performing artist’s book is serious risk to freedom of expressionA British performing artist who has been prevented from publishing his memoir as a result of legal action brought by his ex-wife is to ask the supreme court to overturn... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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7 Things You Need to Know About the Bots That Are Threatening the Ad Industry

Bot fraud, digital advertising's albatross, will suck $6.3 billion from the industry next year, according to a much anticipated report highlighting the threat from the Association of National Advertisers and WhiteOps. Here is the scope of the problem, per analysts at SunTrust Robinson Humphreys:... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google to Help Publishers Make Money by Blocking Ads

Google, the biggest seller of online ads, has created a way for publishers to make money without ads.Google on Thursday introduced an invitation-only crowdfunding program called Contributor that lets people pay $1 to $3 each month to visit sites devoid of ads. The Onion, Mashable, WikiHow, Urban... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Program Lets Readers Pay a Buck a Month to Block Ads

Web publishers for 15 years have struggled with getting readers to pay for content they are accustomed to acquiring for free. Pay walls have been built and dismantled, print-and-digital packages have launched and often failed, but Google's going to see if viewers are happy to throw coins into... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Serves Up User Data to Measure Ads on Others' Sites, Apps

Google was supposed to uproot digital advertising's foundation. But Facebook may beat the search giant to the punch.Confirming what has become advertising's latest worst-kept secret, Facebook said it will begin applying its user data to ads shown outside the social network through a retooled... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Major Publishers Untroubled by Ad Blocking

According to ad-blocking data provider PageFair, more users are now making use of browser plugins such as Adblock Plus to remove ads from the sites they visit. A recent report it published claimed the trend “is threatening the business mode ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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France Rejects Plan to Block Online Ads

The Internet service provider Free restored the ads after meetings with French online publishing and advertising groups, which had complained about a loss of revenue. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2013-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hearst Reboots Mobile Mag Sites in Ad Push

There’s no question about it­—mobile traffic is booming as people spend more time hunched over their little screens. For magazines, it represents an opportunity to capture more readers and try to convert them to paying ones. But advertising on small screens hasn’t kept up. Research by Flurry... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2012-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon puts 50MB limit on 3G Kindle's 'free' experimental browser

Sad news for global freeloaders travellers looking to keep up with Gmail and Twitter on their Amazon e-reader. The online book seller has started closing in on excessive free web browsing, policing a 50MB data limit on its keyboard Kindle iterations. According to users on MobileRead, you'll... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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More Tablet Owners Want Free Apps, With Ads, Instead of Paid

Both the number of people who use tablets and usage per tablet user are exploding. But tablet users' appetite for paid apps isn't following the trend.   A new study commissioned by the Online Publishers Association found that 54% of tabl ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Free books! Get a free Kindle Unlimited trial on Prime Day

Few things bring as much bliss as a good book. It’s just you, the story, and plunging into a whole other world for hours at a time. And thanks to Amazon Prime Day, Prime members can get a whole three months of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service for free—even if you’re a previous Kindle... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2023-07-11 13:34:14 UTC ]
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