Media giants do battle in Web 2.0 space
South Africa’s largest media players are starting to invest heavily in the local online market by investigating the use of various new media platforms and enhanced online content.
Media24 ventured into the new media space with its 24.com portal which includes a blogging platform, podcasts and other Web 2.0 features. The company also recently launched a local version of Digg called Laaik.it – which competes against the more established South African Muti.
Avusa (aka Johnnic Communications) is also investing heavily in new media, most visibly through the Times website. Blogging, Multimedia content and collaboration between its print and online divisions all form part of the company’s increased focus on new media developments.
IOL’s investments are less prominent than the other big players, but its free classifieds and blogging sections indicate that they are also dipping their toes in the water.
The winner is…
It is however the smaller Mail & Guardian – under the leadership of Matthew Buckland and online strategist Vincent Maher – which seems to be leading the race.
Amatomu.com, a South African blog aggregator, quickly became the authority on the local blogosphere with close to 2 000 blog subscriptions and 3 293 176 clickthroughs sent to local blogs.
Its Thoughleader blogging platform – ‘an editorial group blog of quality commentary and analysis’ – was also an instant success. With various influential writers including Anton Harber, Chris Moerdyk, Ferial Haffajee, Ivo Vegter, Steven Friedman and Vinny Lingham it is not hard to see why the site is gaining in popularity.
The company also launched various other initiatives like TheGuide, blogging platform Amagama and Newinphotos with varying success.
The South African online market, which is currently dominated by traditional news and information websites like News24, IOL and MWEB, is slowly changing to incorporate more innovative services.
It however remains the large media companies with deep pockets who seem likely to dominate the local online market in the next few years.
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