NYTimes needs a lot more than just a paywall

The easy money is gone.

If there was a bright spot in the latest quarterly results from the New York Times, it’s the fact that the newspaper’s metered paywall has attracted almost 325,000 subscribers willing to pay a monthly fee for the site. Despite all the celebrating from the pro-paywall camp, however, that bright spot was more than overshadowed by the other dark clouds in the numbers — including the fact that print advertising revenue continues to decline, and the paper’s former online jewel About.com got whacked by Google’s algorithm updates. Anyone who takes on the job of CEO at the NYT media company is going to have to start thinking creatively about its business, because all the easy money has already been made.

Although the paywall and related print-subscription deals helped boost circulation revenue by almost 5 percent in the NYT’s media group — which includes the New York Times, theBoston Globe and the International Herald Tribune — and digital advertising revenue was also up by about 5 percent for the quarter, neither of those things were able to compensate for the continued drop-off in print advertising. Print ad revenue fell by almost 8 percent, which helped push the NYT’s fourth-quarter profit down by more than 12 percent, and for the full year the company reported a loss of $40 million.

Paywall revenue isn’t even close to making up the gap … According to newspaper-industry analyst Ken Doctor, the NYT is probably pulling in about $86 million or so from its digital paywall — or “metered access,” as the paper likes to call it, since you get to read 20 articles for free before you get hit with a request for your credit card. But that’s not even close to being enough to make up for the decline in ad revenue, both print and digital, which dropped by 7 percent in the quarter.

The SIRI-TV

Not enough hardware eye candy. That was the undertone of disappointment that surrounded the introduction of Apple’s new iPhone.

Apple’s television plans are a case of “when” not “if” the latest rumors insist, with Steve Jobs’ well-quoted “I finally cracked it” comment believed to be referring to Siri replacing the traditional remote control rather than the TV hardware and design itself. ”Steve thinks the [TV] industry is totally broken” a source told the NYTimes, one of several who apparently confirmed that Apple was experimenting with TV hardware and software. ”Absolutely, it is a guaranteed product for Apple” was the message, with execs supposedly knowing the true Apple TV was on the roadmap as far back as 2007.

To successfully carve out a gap in what has become a hotly-contested, low-margin segment, however, Apple needed not only its coveted design but to polish the user experience. That supposedly began with replacing one of the mainstays of the current living room setup, the remote control. Siri – which was launched on the iPhone 4S and reacts to naturally-phrased spoken commands – is Apple’s solution, in Steve Jobs’ words allowing for a TV that has “the simplest user interface you could imagine.”

More than a year ago, supply chain sources speaking to the newspaper suggested they’d seen “large parts floating around” that “looked like [they] could be part of a large Apple television.” However, insiders at and close to Apple said that any product builds were on hold until the software and control side came up to speed. That, with Siri – still described by Apple as in beta – looks to finally be coming of age.

Other recent leaks have indicated that Apple’s iTunes chief is currently leading the television project, while – like the existing Apple TV set-top box – the standalone television is believed to run iOS; it would also have FaceTime video calling, as per recent iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and MacBook models. The newspaper argues that the limiting factor today is the cost of large display panels, something that Apple needs to see fall if it hopes to compete with the affordable TVs on sale today. Nonetheless, its prediction is a true Apple television by 2013.

Yes, Apple’s Building A TV — And It Will Be Powered By Siri, Voice Activation

Nick Bilton over at the New York Times has quietly released what is either a mega-scoop or some sharp speculation supported by original reporting.

NYT: Apple’s TV is Coming in 2013 and Will Have Siri Instead of a Remote

it might look like this???

It’s a rare occurrence when an Apple executive leaks one of the company’s upcoming products, especially when it comes from Steve Jobs himself. But in Walter Isaacson’s new Steve Jobs biography, it is revealed that Steve “finally cracked” the television set.

The story has spawned a whole new round of Apple TV rumors in the past couple weeks, and the latest comes from Nick Bilton of The New York Times, who claims the set is on track for a 2013 release, and that instead of a remote, you’ll control it using Siri.

Bilton writes:

Apple engineers and designers, spurred by Mr. Jobs, have been struggling for years to find a new interface for the television. One of the biggest hurdles, according to people with knowledge of the project, has been replacing the television set’s annoying best friend: the awkward and confusing remote control. Apple would give people a way to choose the content on their television that is as easy as choosing the content on their iPod, iPhone or iPad…

Enter Siri.

It’s the stuff of science fiction. You sit on your couch and rather than fumble with several remotes or use hand gestures, you simply talk: “Put on the last episode of Gossip Girl.” “Play the local news headlines.” “Play some Coldplay music videos.” Siri does the rest.

We’re not sure which. But we’re convinced:

Apple’s building a TV, and it will be powered by Siri.

Steve Jobs’ “I’ve finally cracked it” comment to Walter Isaacson, Bilton says, was referring to the TV interface, not the actual TV set. Instead of having a pile of remotes on our coffee tables, or an absurdly complicated remote keyboard like the one Google set with Google TV, we’ll just tell Siri what you want to watch. And Siri will play it.

Per Bilton:

• Apple has been working on its TV solution since 2007
• A year ago, a source of Bilton’s said a TV was a “guaranteed product” for Apple, because “Steve thinks the industry is totally broken.”
• Barclays estimates that TVs could quickly be a $19 billion business for Apple, assuming the company only captures 5% of the market
• To roll out a TV, Apple has to wait until the price of 42-inch displays falls further
• Bilton thinks we’ll see the TV in late 2012 or early 2013

Based on our mixed experience with Siri so far, we’d be surprised if “she” was the only interface with Apple’s iTV, as we’re assuming it will be called. Business Insider’s gadget god, Steve Kovach, says iPhones and iPads will also likely be usable as remotes. That will be handy in case you can’t get Siri to understand what you want…or if you just feel ridiculous talking to your TV.

Either way, that ridiculous pile of remotes and boxes that surrounds your TV will, hopefully, soon be a thing of the past.

In our expected “Apple Product Rollout Schedule,” we’re projecting the iTV will be announced in the fall of 2012, so you can buy one with your holiday shopping.

Go read Nick Bilton’s post here >

SEE ALSO: Apple’s Product Rollout Schedule