Comments on: Facebook Users Prefer Broadcast Media

By: Matey

Matey — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:04:33 +0000

It’s because Facebook users are all about immediacy, instant, quick show me something so I can move onto something else. Pictures offer that, text fails because of time spent in reading. This is why Youtube is so famous. If I share a video with a friend, the landing page better have a video.

By: Heather Hopkins

Heather Hopkins — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:37:19 +0000

Thanks for all the comments. I am working on two follow up posts… One on downstream news and media sites from Twitter and the other on the loyalty of FB and Google News visitors to News and Media websites (measured by new and returning visits clickstream data). Keep the suggestions/comments coming!

By: Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:02:05 +0000

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By: Orlando

Orlando — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:45:35 +0000

Very good analysis. It make sense for hard core news readers to go to Google News. And for young people to prefer to watch videos broadcasts.

By: Matthew Quint

Matthew Quint — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:40:14 +0000

Thanks for taking a deeper look at these recent statistics. I think one point not brought up yet for the increased sharing of broadcast media sites is the fact that Facebook is a better platform for video sharing. While "online print media" also uses video content, there is a lot more video to see and share from CNN, MSNBC and FOX. Matt For a great discussion of these types of topics, and more, check out: The BRITE '10 conference on brands, innovation and technology. March 31 - April 1 Columbia University New York $55 off discount code: twitter55

By: Scott Strenger

Scott Strenger — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:31:32 +0000

Very interesting observation. Where does twitter fit into this? While many users make twitter their own, it’s strength as a place for sharing information as news is one of its main attractions. Do people more often retweet NY Times articles or CNN videos? Individuals like emerging news, however they also like follow up details of what actually happened. Does social media have a place for broadcast AND traditional print sources? These are certainly questions we should be asking each other. I would love to collaborate with you on the topic.

By: Danny Sanchez

Danny Sanchez — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:09:22 +0000

Hi Heather, fascinating analysis! I’m curious as to whether the same data is available for Twitter.

By: Mario Tedeschini-Lalli

Mario Tedeschini-Lalli — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:02:55 +0000

well, the main difference is that Google News has a pre-definite pool of sources, chosen by its editors (how else should we call them?), while FB just collects what users chose to share.
In this case it would perhaps make more sense to compare traffic directed to news sites by feed readers, than Google News.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:48:53 +0000

Makes sense. CNN will usually have it first, but NYTimes will usually have it better. Facebook sharers like things that are happening now, but Google News can’t sort it out that fast; they lean more on reputation than immediacy.
I’d like to see if this holds up at a local level. (My guess: yes.) Can Hitwise measure local broadcasters vs. local newspapers?

By: patricia

patricia — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:17:20 +0000

But what really matters are the session times, repeat visitors and bounce rates coming off the traffic social networks drive to media sites, etc. 100 million uniques that spend less than a minute on a site and never come back isn’t viable audience, just noise.

By: David Berrebi

David Berrebi — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:17:24 +0000

Interesting analysis, thanks !
Would be interesting this type of analysis with major ecommerce sites…

By: Silicon Valley Watcher - at the intersection of technology and media

Silicon Valley Watcher - at the intersection of technology and media — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:32:31 +0000

Hitwise Uncovers Puzzling Difference Between Sharing News And Consuming It

Heather Hopkins is senior online analyst at Hitwise, which monitors traffic to web sites for Experian. She writes that “Facebook Users Prefer Broadcast Media.”A couple of weeks ago, I posted an entry about Facebook becoming the largest news reader. Fac…

By: Tom Foremski

Tom Foremski — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:16:37 +0000

It’s puzzling why there is such a big difference. Its a difference between what is consumed and what is shared. I might read to be informed but I will share goofy or unusual content. This might explain the difference.