Maybe it was there before but today I saw on Getty's home page a promo with direct link to Thinkstock. For those who think iStock has a future...

Interesting that Thinkstock is the main promotion and you get free credits at Istock as a side benefit. Doesn't look like a good sign for Istock that it's the free appetizer for the main meal. Subscription seems to be their future and must be where the highest profits are for them.

It will be an interesting next couple of years. If everything goes subscription there are only so many buyers and downloads to go around. Like macro, and now micro, everything hits a wall eventually. What happens when subscription hits the wall? What's next for contributors? Free?

What is next for contributors? How about not using agencies and going totally independent now that we hace a choice?

+1
They rely on us to supply material if we dont supply they will fall before we do.

What is next for contributors? How about not using agencies and going totally independent now that we hace a choice?

It's a nice thought but too many people wont dare leave the sites that pay low commission rates.  They're frightened of losing a few $$$ in the short term and aren�t concerned enough about how their earnings are going to be obliterated in the long term.  They would rather spend their time complaining about sites here while still uploading all they can.

Quote from: Tinny on June 15, 2013, 16:03

What is next for contributors? How about not using agencies and going totally independent now that we hace a choice?

+1
They rely on us to supply material if we dont supply they will fall before we do.

True, but the only way contributors will stop contributing on a large enough scale for larger agencies to fail is when it's no longer worth it for contributors. Meaning the money has dried up and we've reached rock bottom. This seems to already be happening somewhat at Istock. They started taking benefits away in 2009 and four years later they are now just starting to ease up on the taking.

Quote from: loop on June 15, 2013, 17:24

I think their target is weakening SS,and it's a business logic target, but not at this price.

I think the only real way to weaken SS would be to go back to how istock was a few years ago before all the changes.  There was a time when going exclusive looked like an option for most of us and they only had to increase commission percentages a bit and SS would of been in trouble. 

That ship sailed long ago.  No one with any sense of history would trust iStock or Getty to play fair.  Heck, I never considered exclusivity with iStock, even when they were my #1 revenue generator.  I liked (and still like) spreading out my risk, and I always felt there was something off about the way iStock treated its suppliers.  If I've learned anything from the past few years, it's that it's better to keep my options open.  I've been RIFed often enough in the real world to know that things can change in a hurry.

Quote from: picture5469 on June 15, 2013, 16:07

Quote from: Tinny on June 15, 2013, 16:03

What is next for contributors? How about not using agencies and going totally independent now that we hace a choice?

+1
They rely on us to supply material if we dont supply they will fall before we do.

True, but the only way contributors will stop contributing on a large enough scale for larger agencies to fail is when it's no longer worth it for contributors. Meaning the money has dried up and we've reached rock bottom. This seems to already be happening somewhat at Istock. They started taking benefits away in 2009 and four years later they are now just starting to ease up on the taking.

Exactly