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Author Topic: Exclusives and PP  (Read 6468 times)

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ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« on: July 10, 2013, 14:17 »
0
Just got this email. Ha, proves I never manage to guess what they'll do next. I'm not in the PP, but feared the lower standards/rapid sinking of new images was their prelude to forcing non- or low-selling files to the PP. But it seems exclusives can no longer add files to the PP. Fine by me, but some exclusives may feel otherwise.

Notification: Partner Program and Exclusivity- July 9, 2013
Early next week we will be removing the option for Exclusives to opt in to the Partner Program. This means Exclusives will no longer be able to add files to the Partner Program (thinkstock.com|photos.com). Any files that are currently a part of the Partner Program will be grandfathered into the Partner Program, but we will also provide you an opportunity to remove these files at any time.

NOTE: Exclusive Content that is currently backlogged (anything post June 17, 2013) will NOT be moved to the Partner Program sites.

This change is a small part of our larger plan to highlight and promote Exclusive content only available from iStockphoto. We have a number of other enhancements queued up for release over the next few weeks. These initiatives will be focused on Search, additional User Interface changes, and optimizing our Exclusive offerings on the site.

As we get closer to those launch dates we will provide some additional details on what is coming up.

Please feel free to comment on this decision in the Partner Program discussion thread we've started
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=354886&page=1

No use writing that, as I'm not free to comment there. So I'll comment here: "what a relief!"
Wonder what's 'coming up'.
 


« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2013, 14:22 »
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 12:16 by Audi 5000 »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2013, 14:24 »
+4
I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans.
Oh, sh*t, you're right, hadn't thought of that. I should know better than to imagine they would do things in our interest.  :(

« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2013, 14:26 »
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 12:16 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2013, 14:37 »
+7
I wonder if nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from the state of Denmark, will retain the option to participate in the PP as one of the 'perks' of their 'nonexclusive exclusivity'.

drial7m1

« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2013, 14:38 »
+1
I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans.
Oh, sh*t, you're right, hadn't thought of that. I should know better than to imagine they would do things in our interest.  :(
It still might be better than how it is now, some people put good selling images into the partner program.  I think it's best if the better selling (hopefully higher quality and more useful) images are only found on Istock.

I have a feeling that in the new system that iStock will not want to have an exclusive put a photo that is in the signature or above collections into the PP which would lose money for iStock and of course the contributor as well.  And as you have said, I'd believe that in time, things that are in the Main collection that have not done well or sold at all will end up going into the PP at the discretion of iStock.  But for now, I don't have anything in the PP so it's not going to hurt or help me.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2013, 14:48 by drial7m1 »

« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2013, 14:46 »
+3
I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans.
Oh, sh*t, you're right, hadn't thought of that. I should know better than to imagine they would do things in our interest.  :(

Well, if you take what they say at face value (????!!!!!) you would have the right to pull any files they put into PP back out again.
It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2013, 15:14 »
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As an exclusive, I would have liked to hear this years ago.  Then again, some people like the option of spreading their work through the "family".

« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2013, 15:30 »
0
I'm not sure this excludes the possibility that Istock moves content into the partner program, like images moved down to the Main collection.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is in the plans. 

I tend to agree - I've always thought that was likely part of the strategy.

But the PP has always sat rather uncomfortably with Exclusivity, as I see it;  I felt iStock only allowed Exclusives the opt-in in the first place because they thought there would be complaints if non-exclusives were given access to a market the Exclusives couldn't utilise.  Now it's settled down they can no doubt see that most Exclusives aren't bothering much with it anyway.  Certainly the responses so far in the forum are pretty positive.

As the option was there I did put quite a few in myself, but all were low or non-sellers;  can't say I'll really miss it much.  I did have a couple that sold well there - in fact, they sold so well I moved them to E+, and now they're on Getty, where one has sold, once, for the equivalent of several month's worth of its sales in the PP!

I think this move makes sense.

« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2013, 15:40 »
+1
I'm thrilled with this! One way to survive in this market is to set yourself apart from the others. Hated PP from the start as it was a down sale not an up sale!

« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2013, 15:52 »
0
It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

Yes, I think that's it exactly.  I suspect the additional changes will make it more difficult for nonexclusives to get sales through iS.  They are going to end up with iS for exclusives and the PP for everyone else.  This explains the lowering of review standards as well (at least for nonexclusives).  This may be positive for exclusives but probably not for the rest of us.

mlwinphoto

« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2013, 16:02 »
+1
I'm thrilled with this! One way to survive in this market is to set yourself apart from the others. Hated PP from the start as it was a down sale not an up sale!

iStock is certainly setting itself apart from the others....

lisafx

« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2013, 17:33 »
+2
It looks more like they are trying to create a clean split between exclusives and independents.

Yes, I think that's it exactly.  I suspect the additional changes will make it more difficult for nonexclusives to get sales through iS.  They are going to end up with iS for exclusives and the PP for everyone else.  This explains the lowering of review standards as well (at least for nonexclusives).  This may be positive for exclusives but probably not for the rest of us.

I agree on all counts. 

To be honest, it's about time they threw exclusives a few bones.  Maybe they can finally stop hemorrhaging exclusives and keep them neatly squared away in the Getty "family". 

« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2013, 18:23 »
+3
I wonder if nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from the state of Denmark, will retain the option to participate in the PP as one of the 'perks' of their 'nonexclusive exclusivity'.

I think it is outrageous that nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from "the state of Denmark" (it actually qualified as a nation the last time I was there), are not allowed to have their images on SS. We need a 'nonexclusive exclusive' revolution to get Yuri's images back on SS.

It is also an absolutely disgusting denial of Yuri's 'Human Rights' to not have his images available everywhere whilst being paid an exclusive pittance by Getty. He's basically been 'human trafficked' from his studio in South Africa.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2013, 18:30 by gostwyck »

« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2013, 18:33 »
+2
I wonder if nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from the state of Denmark, will retain the option to participate in the PP as one of the 'perks' of their 'nonexclusive exclusivity'.

I think it is outrageous that nonexclusive exclusives, especially those from "the state of Denmark" (it actually qualified as a nation the last time I was there), are not allowed to have their images on SS. We need a 'nonexclusive exclusive' revolution to get Yuri's images back on SS.

Gostwyck, old chap, it's a kingdom.... ruled by Queen Margrethe II. (So I suppose it ought to be called a Queendom, but it isn't.)

And, to be fair, Snufkin did have Shakespeare's authority for his terminology.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2013, 18:38 by BaldricksTrousers »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #15 on: July 10, 2013, 19:14 »
+4
Isn't it ironic that they have chosen to use the term "grandfathered", a term with which I was not familiar until their last grandfathering promise, which they broke in jig time.  :'(

« Reply #16 on: July 10, 2013, 23:18 »
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 12:15 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2013, 23:37 »
+5
Wow, they never cease to surprise me.  I expected them to force all the exclusive content into the PP. Although the cynic in me thinks they are going to move it there in some way that they can pay less for a sub sale - maybe move it to Getty and then move Getty stuff to PP.

If they do get all the indy stuff out of IS then they are going to have to squeeze the exclusives harder to get down to their optimal 20% average.

I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop, it always seems to somehow.


 

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