Comments on: Peerflix Hits the Replay Button (Again)—Wants to Become an Ad Network http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/ Startup and Technology News Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:06:49 -0800 hourly 1 By: LiveUniverse Buys Another Loser: Peerflix http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-2460333 LiveUniverse Buys Another Loser: Peerflix Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:01:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-2460333 [...] demand-based model in 2006, but that didn’t work well either: in November 2007 it decided to launch a media network that had nothing to do with its original DVD swapping service. Peerflix finally [...] [...] demand-based model in 2006, but that didn’t work well either: in November 2007 it decided to launch a media network that had nothing to do with its original DVD swapping service. Peerflix finally [...]

]]> By: Terbaik.Net » Blog Archive » Peerflix To Close DVD Business, Continue As Ad Seller Only http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-2052148 Terbaik.Net » Blog Archive » Peerflix To Close DVD Business, Continue As Ad Seller Only Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:28:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-2052148 [...] wrote in November that Peerflix didn’t know what it wanted to be; after four months it would appear that it [...] [...] wrote in November that Peerflix didn’t know what it wanted to be; after four months it would appear that it [...]

]]> By: Peerflix To Close DVD Business, Continue As Ad Seller Only http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-2050852 Peerflix To Close DVD Business, Continue As Ad Seller Only Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:42:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-2050852 [...] wrote in November that Peerflix didn’t know what it wanted to be; after four months it would appear that it [...] [...] wrote in November that Peerflix didn’t know what it wanted to be; after four months it would appear that it [...]

]]> By: Fred Peters http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1764020 Fred Peters Sat, 17 Nov 2007 04:32:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1764020 Actually check out this link - looks like SaySwap is 4x the size of switchplanet and 3x the size of swaptree: http://siteanalytics.compete.com/switchplanet.com+sayswap.com+swaptree.com/?metric=uv Actually check out this link – looks like SaySwap is 4x the size of switchplanet and 3x the size of swaptree: http://siteanal....com/?metric=uv

]]> By: Fred Peters http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1764017 Fred Peters Sat, 17 Nov 2007 04:29:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1764017 Hey SwitchPlanet - ya I guess you are right that Alexa is really a very poor way to measure traffic - Isn't comscore / mediametrix the industry standard? I think Comscore only measures that top 15,000 sites in the USA, however Switchplanet did not even appear in the top 15,000 in the USA whilte SaySwap is tracked within the top 15,000. Thoughts? Hey SwitchPlanet – ya I guess you are right that Alexa is really a very poor way to measure traffic – Isn’t comscore / mediametrix the industry standard? I think Comscore only measures that top 15,000 sites in the USA, however Switchplanet did not even appear in the top 15,000 in the USA whilte SaySwap is tracked within the top 15,000. Thoughts?

]]> By: Movie Marketing Madness » MMM joins the Peerflix Media Network http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1763246 Movie Marketing Madness » MMM joins the Peerflix Media Network Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:41:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1763246 [...] by know means the only other site in the new network. TechCrunch wrote up the launch and says ScreenRant, ComicBookMovie and others are also [...] [...] by know means the only other site in the new network. TechCrunch wrote up the launch and says ScreenRant, ComicBookMovie and others are also [...]

]]> By: Trade Games http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1763178 Trade Games Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:34:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1763178 Hey SaySwap, SwitchPlanet is WAY ahead of you in traffic. I don't need Alexa to prove it but even they have us at 47,000 and SaySwap at 85,000. I get new members coming over from SaySwap everyday because once they hear about us they no longer care to pay the $5 a trade that SaySwap charges...not to mention you're only allowed to trade the disc there. We're not even a year old and we got some awesome stuff planned for early 2008! Hey SaySwap,

SwitchPlanet is WAY ahead of you in traffic. I don’t need Alexa to prove it but even they have us at 47,000 and SaySwap at 85,000.

I get new members coming over from SaySwap everyday because once they hear about us they no longer care to pay the $5 a trade that SaySwap charges…not to mention you’re only allowed to trade the disc there.

We’re not even a year old and we got some awesome stuff planned for early 2008!

]]> By: Roy Simpson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1761890 Roy Simpson Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:30:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1761890 The reason why a site like SaySwap has been so successful is because of the high prices of videogames. Since DVDs are much cheaper with their replay value minimal when compared to videogames, its no surprise that a trading community for gamers such as sayswap would make so much sencse and get alot more traffic and users. I mean if i could rent a movie which i'd only watch once anyways, why would i bother with a movie trading site. Video games on the other hand are somethings which I play more than once and am sick of the high retail prices. The reason why a site like SaySwap has been so successful is because of the high prices of videogames. Since DVDs are much cheaper with their replay value minimal when compared to videogames, its no surprise that a trading community for gamers such as sayswap would make so much sencse and get alot more traffic and users. I mean if i could rent a movie which i’d only watch once anyways, why would i bother with a movie trading site. Video games on the other hand are somethings which I play more than once and am sick of the high retail prices.

]]> By: Fred Peters http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1761873 Fred Peters Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:20:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1761873 Guys - you are all missing the point about peerflix, swaptree, switchplanet etc - none of these properties can really aggregate traffic - I did a quick search on alexa and the only swapsite that has a top 100,000 type ranking is SaySwap for video Games Guys – you are all missing the point about peerflix, swaptree, switchplanet etc – none of these properties can really aggregate traffic – I did a quick search on alexa and the only swapsite that has a top 100,000 type ranking is SaySwap for video Games

]]> By: ScreenRant.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1757029 ScreenRant.com Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:46:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1757029 BTW, I appreciate the site mention but it would have been nice if you provided some link-love. :-) Vic BTW, I appreciate the site mention but it would have been nice if you provided some link-love. :-)

Vic

]]> By: ScreenRant.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1757024 ScreenRant.com Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:44:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1757024 I think niche ad networks are of benefit to both publishers and advertisers. Since my site is all about movies, I like the idea of delivering movie-related ads to my readers instead of blinking ads promoting "zwinkys," shampoo or auto insurance. Plus I've found that at least for me, the CPM model pays FAR better than the CPC. Vic I think niche ad networks are of benefit to both publishers and advertisers. Since my site is all about movies, I like the idea of delivering movie-related ads to my readers instead of blinking ads promoting “zwinkys,” shampoo or auto insurance.

Plus I’ve found that at least for me, the CPM model pays FAR better than the CPC.

Vic

]]> By: Poor Peerflix http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1756786 Poor Peerflix Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:11:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1756786 Peerflix had poor execution, and still do not know what its doing. In their vertical, they should just copy Flixster who seems to do very well. An ad network? Just like the DVD trading business, these guys don't know what this business is all about. They should return the money to the VCs and call it quits. Looks like another layoffs coming in January. Peerflix had poor execution, and still do not know what its doing. In their vertical, they should just copy Flixster who seems to do very well. An ad network? Just like the DVD trading business, these guys don’t know what this business is all about.

They should return the money to the VCs and call it quits. Looks like another layoffs coming in January.

]]> By: Tom Carpentier http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1756523 Tom Carpentier Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:34:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1756523 I think Peerflix was doomed from the start as a trading company. Not many people own DVDs, and if they do, they one a few of their favorite ones that they don't want to trade. The movie industry has always been a rental one anyway. I, too, use Swaptree and love it. This is not a commercial so I don't care if you bash. The things I like about the Swaptree model is that I can do cross media trades (people probably own more books than anything else, followed by CDs, DVDs, and video games), so I can get a lot more from my DaVinci Code hardcover. In addition, they have three and four way trading which (to my knowledge) no one else has, which also dramatically increases the amount of goods I can get. Try it yourself and you will see what I mean. Anyway, I wonder how much money Peerflix has burned - their business model has been like a merry-go-round. Hope they have deep pocketed VCs because they (the VCs) obviously don't want to let go. I think Peerflix was doomed from the start as a trading company. Not many people own DVDs, and if they do, they one a few of their favorite ones that they don’t want to trade. The movie industry has always been a rental one anyway.

I, too, use Swaptree and love it. This is not a commercial so I don’t care if you bash. The things I like about the Swaptree model is that I can do cross media trades (people probably own more books than anything else, followed by CDs, DVDs, and video games), so I can get a lot more from my DaVinci Code hardcover. In addition, they have three and four way trading which (to my knowledge) no one else has, which also dramatically increases the amount of goods I can get. Try it yourself and you will see what I mean.

Anyway, I wonder how much money Peerflix has burned – their business model has been like a merry-go-round. Hope they have deep pocketed VCs because they (the VCs) obviously don’t want to let go.

]]> By: Rob L. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1756021 Rob L. Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:39:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1756021 Yay, yet another vertically-focused ad network! How original, it seems like the business everybody wants to be in. Several companies are also repositioning themselves to be "ad network creators" or providers, like Pulse360 was discussing at ad:tech in New York last week. So it may make a bit of sense if they've already cultivated good relationships with studios and other big movie-related advertisers and just need to expand ad inventory... but unfortunately, in an increasingly competitive ad space, they will be quite limited in how big they can get and will be fighting shrinking margins. The plain vanilla ad network is not going to be sustainable for much beyond the next 12-18 months in our view. Yay, yet another vertically-focused ad network! How original, it seems like the business everybody wants to be in. Several companies are also repositioning themselves to be “ad network creators” or providers, like Pulse360 was discussing at ad:tech in New York last week.

So it may make a bit of sense if they’ve already cultivated good relationships with studios and other big movie-related advertisers and just need to expand ad inventory… but unfortunately, in an increasingly competitive ad space, they will be quite limited in how big they can get and will be fighting shrinking margins. The plain vanilla ad network is not going to be sustainable for much beyond the next 12-18 months in our view.

]]> By: SuperBatman http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755668 SuperBatman Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:14:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755668 @7: Yeah, I would agree with you, but in order to "get traction" in the movie advertising space it seems to they would have to get either IMDB, RottenTomatoes, or Flixster on board, since I'm sure that 10% of the traffic at any one of those sites would dwarf any network of movie sites that Peerflix could put together. And any of those sites could cut their own advertising deals directly with advertisers, so I don't see why they would want to deal with Peerflix. Unless there is something that I'm not seeing... @8 I checked out your site, but Switchbucs sounds too much like Peerbux to me. And although I was able to cash out my balance out at Peerflix, I don't feel like going through that again. @7:
Yeah, I would agree with you, but in order to “get traction” in the movie advertising space it seems to they would have to get either IMDB, RottenTomatoes, or Flixster on board, since I’m sure that 10% of the traffic at any one of those sites would dwarf any network of movie sites that Peerflix could put together. And any of those sites could cut their own advertising deals directly with advertisers, so I don’t see why they would want to deal with Peerflix. Unless there is something that I’m not seeing…

@8 I checked out your site, but Switchbucs sounds too much like Peerbux to me. And although I was able to cash out my balance out at Peerflix, I don’t feel like going through that again.

]]> By: SwitchPlanet.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755626 SwitchPlanet.com Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:46:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755626 Come on SwapTree you've already been featured on TechCrunch. If that didn't help you blow up, which it looks like it didn't, i doubt comment posting will help. Leave that for us guys who have not been featured yet. :) Come on SwapTree you’ve already been featured on TechCrunch. If that didn’t help you blow up, which it looks like it didn’t, i doubt comment posting will help.

Leave that for us guys who have not been featured yet. :)

]]> By: Danny Robinson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755621 Danny Robinson Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:44:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755621 Anyone who can aggregate ad dollars into vertical channels is going to be able to get market acceptance from those publishers. Boutique niche ad-channel aggregators wont be allowed to exist independently because of all the contention in the internet ad industry. When Peerflix gets more traction, MSN, Google, or Yahoo will probably take a run at them. - From a business point of view, this is a smart move. Anyone who can aggregate ad dollars into vertical channels is going to be able to get market acceptance from those publishers. Boutique niche ad-channel aggregators wont be allowed to exist independently because of all the contention in the internet ad industry. When Peerflix gets more traction, MSN, Google, or Yahoo will probably take a run at them. – From a business point of view, this is a smart move.

]]> By: SuperBatman http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755618 SuperBatman Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:43:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755618 Whoops, here's the link without the comma: http://www.swaptree.com Whoops, here’s the link without the comma: http://www.swaptree.com

]]> By: SuperBatman http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755607 SuperBatman Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:32:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755607 I've been a Peerflix member for some time now, and while I think that the idea of swapping DVDs is one that can work, Peerflix just really messed up the implementation. The site actually used to be pretty decent. First of all, they had "Peerbux", which was an onsite currency which workable but was kind of a pain in the ass. Then they converting everything into cash and allowed people to buy and sell movies and cash out their Peerbux and that really tanked the site. Throw in a couple of site redesigns over the years where the site got slower each time AND more confusing, and its obvious that Peerflix doesn't have a clue what they are doing. I know a lot of users that I used to trade with finally just gave up waiting for things to improve. A couple of months ago, I started to use swaptree http://www.swaptree.com, and I'm enjoying trading DVDs again- I even get the DVD case and artwork, which was always a drawback of peerflix. I don't work for swaptree or know anyone there, I just think they offer a pretty decent service. Everything is about ads these days, so I guess it was just a matter of time that companies would give up dealing with transactions which generate revenue and just try to push bits around. :) I’ve been a Peerflix member for some time now, and while I think that the idea of swapping DVDs is one that can work, Peerflix just really messed up the implementation. The site actually used to be pretty decent. First of all, they had “Peerbux”, which was an onsite currency which workable but was kind of a pain in the ass. Then they converting everything into cash and allowed people to buy and sell movies and cash out their Peerbux and that really tanked the site. Throw in a couple of site redesigns over the years where the site got slower each time AND more confusing, and its obvious that Peerflix doesn’t have a clue what they are doing. I know a lot of users that I used to trade with finally just gave up waiting for things to improve.

A couple of months ago, I started to use swaptree http://www.swaptree.com, and I’m enjoying trading DVDs again- I even get the DVD case and artwork, which was always a drawback of peerflix. I don’t work for swaptree or know anyone there, I just think they offer a pretty decent service.

Everything is about ads these days, so I guess it was just a matter of time that companies would give up dealing with transactions which generate revenue and just try to push bits around. :)

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755590 Andy Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:21:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755590 The movieblog logo links to an image. The movieblog logo links to an image.

]]> By: SwitchPlanet.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755588 SwitchPlanet.com Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:20:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755588 I like the trading model just fine! :) I like the trading model just fine! :)

]]> By: AnonTroll http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755587 AnonTroll Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:19:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755587 Swapping digital contents? Yikes, I shudder at the thought of potential copyright issues. As for Peerflix ever changing business model, a VC from Kleiner Perkins said this a couple of months ago, "... there is no need for a business plan when it comes to Web 2.0 business, it's all about iteration." However it's nice though to be able to change directions multiple times at someone else's dime. Sweet. Swapping digital contents? Yikes, I shudder at the thought of potential copyright issues.

As for Peerflix ever changing business model, a VC from Kleiner Perkins said this a couple of months ago, “… there is no need for a business plan when it comes to Web 2.0 business, it’s all about iteration.” However it’s nice though to be able to change directions multiple times at someone else’s dime. Sweet.

]]> By: LN http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/comment-page-1/#comment-1755568 LN Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:05:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/13/peerflix-hits-the-replay-button-again%e2%80%94wants-to-become-an-ad-network/#comment-1755568 Maybe I'm not thinking this through, - but what would Peerflix's business model be called if instead of swapping physical DVDs, the members just swapped the digital content instead...? Maybe I’m not thinking this through, – but what would Peerflix’s business model be called if instead of swapping physical DVDs, the members just swapped the digital content instead…?

]]>