A customizable News Stream is the creation of a single Stream (feed) of media with 2 or more sources (outlets). This single Stream is made up of multiple objects (segments) that have been placed in order by the user (viewer). Both the objects and the order of those objects could be either experienced (watched/heard/read) now or saved for later. In addition, that Stream would be accessible on any device or platform that had access to the Internet or a specific application.
The goal is to be able to provide the user with the control over what media is displayed. The aggregate user data that could be gathered from this would be phenomenal and would help each outlet produce more aware News. That News would be consumed more readily and shared more often, giving an increased value to portability. However, the point is to make experiencing the News an “anywhere, anytime” proposition.
To construct the experience of the user, three steps have been constructed. Each of the three user’s steps are illustrated and explained a bit further, below.
The first step is to be presented with your media in a way that allows you to see each individual piece as an independent segment. Here you are able to choose which segments you want to watch and in what order.
The second step is to create the length and order of your News Stream.
The third step is to either watch the News Stream now or to save it for later.
Giving News viewers/listeners/readers the ability to access the News in any order and combination, anywhere and anytime is a probable evolution of media. Ultimately, the value to the New outlets and stations around the country would be substantial. The feedback that would receive in the form of aggregate user data would be the completion of a long neglected loop. That loop is an emerging source of income for News outlets and stations.
Profitability would still be based on the volume of viewership. However, there wouldn’t be as large of and audience as there is today. There would be a dedicated niche audience that would either pay for access or would sit through more appealing commercials. In the end, both the user and their presence become more valuable than ever for the outlets and stations.
For advertisers the opportunities are just as great. Having a smaller, but more in-tune audience gives the advertiser more attention time by volume. The end result is that advertisers will be able to produce higher performing ads based on the News outlets and station delivering “better” audiences. These audiences would also leave a much stronger aggregate footprint as a result of having assembled their own News Stream. This information would be made available as aggregated anonymous user data. By using the data to predict who would view a specific segment, advertisers would be able to offer more appropriate advertisements.
Today, we have either pay major outlets an individual subscription fee or access the News from multiple sites. Imagine being able to do all of that, payment and experience, in a single frame.