| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 600.1 | | NETRIX::michaud | 1-900-HELP-OJ | Mon Aug 01 1994 11:00 | 8 |
| > Considering the astronomical costs for paying for the
> lines and advertising it sounds kinda risky!
I've heard that there isn't much cost to setup, which is why
there are a zillion of these 900 numbers. What I've also
heard is that there are lots of so called companies that
will take your money up front to help you setup a 900
number and that one should be wary of such outfits ....
|
| 600.2 | | 7892::BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Ask for a mine and I'll give you the shaft. | Mon Aug 01 1994 11:10 | 8 |
|
I'd suggest a touch-tone "menu" for the movies, so a caller
doesn't have to sit through 10 reviews when [s]he is only
looking for 1 review.
Just in case you hadn't thought of it.
GTI
|
| 600.3 | I'd use it. | 11773::BAKER | | Mon Aug 01 1994 11:56 | 9 |
| The touch tone idea is a good one! As far as the costs
it was in the several thousands to lease a line from
MCI. I saw a number advertised in a magazine that
provided such a service and called it to before taking
my kids to see the FLINSTONES (hated it).
So I can say that I'd probably use the service on occasion.
Anyone else?
|
| 600.4 | | NETRIX::michaud | All 900 numbers are rip offs | Mon Aug 01 1994 12:36 | 14 |
| > So I can say that I'd probably use the service on occasion.
> Anyone else?
Given movie reviews are already plentiful around here:
This conference
USENET (both rec.* and API News Wire postings)
Movies This Week (MTW)
World Wide Web (WWW)
TV (Siskel & Ebert, Sneak Previews, 11pm news)
And the above are all free, I don't think I'll pay money (and
at a $60/hour rate!) for another review that is going to be
no more tailored to my movie tastes than the free ones ....
|
| 600.5 | | DSSDEV::RUST | | Mon Aug 01 1994 12:42 | 14 |
| Re .4: Yeah, anyone who has access to newsgroups or any of the on-line
services has cheaper access to miscellaneous movie reviews than the
900-line would be - but I suppose folks who aren't interested in the
Internet might prefer a number. I'd expect its success to be a function
of cost, ease of use, the selection of films available at any given
time, and the quality of the "person on the street" reviews (how are
these supposed to be gathered, btw? If callers can leave their own
reviews, it might prompt more activity, but it would also require
monitoring and might open up the entrepreneur to liability of some
kind...).
FWIW, I would have no interest in such a service.
-b
|
| 600.6 | P. T. Barnum was right | VMSDEV::HALLYB | Fish have no concept of fire | Mon Aug 01 1994 13:51 | 12 |
| > If callers can leave their own
> reviews, it might prompt more activity, but it would also require
Well, maybe instead of reviews you could have callers \vote/ on the
films they saw, and report the current %age favorable during or
(more likely) separate from the recorded review.
"... 80 per cent of our callers voted thumbs-up on Forrest Gump".
It's pretty amazing how many 900-number "vote lines" there are.
John
|
| 600.7 | | 11773::BAKER | | Mon Aug 01 1994 14:01 | 12 |
| The reviews will be collected via mail. For every review used
the "reviewer" will receive free movie passes. I agree that
if one has access to on-line services then it's probably not
worth it. But for those that don't have access to a PC or
subscribe to any entertainment type periodicals it may be.
The point about callers leaving their own reviews is a good idea
but it would be difficult to manage. His plan is to provide up
to 10 of the latest movie reviews via a menu. The caller selects
a movie and hears the review. The average length will be 2 minutes
at a cost of 99cents for each review.
|
| 600.8 | | 15377::DEMON::COURT | Wit happens. | Mon Aug 01 1994 15:50 | 3 |
| The reviews will be collected via (U.S., i presume) mail? That doesn't
sound like a good approach for providing up-to-date reviews on new
films.
|
| 600.9 | U.s. mail isn't so bad... | 11773::BAKER | | Mon Aug 01 1994 16:57 | 14 |
| Well actually, when a movie is released it takes awhile for the
public to check it out before the "real" review comes out.
For instance, "True Lies" got a lot of hot press upon it's
initial release, but most of the people I've talked to that
have seen it give it a "thumbs down".
I usually wait until a movie is out for awhile before going
to see it. That way I get the opportunity to sense the crowd
before spending my hard-earned $$$.
And c'mon ....the U.S. postal service ain't that bad. In fact
minus their problem with disgruntled workers they're probably
one of the most efficient services that our government provides!
|
| 600.10 | | NETRIX::michaud | Roger Ebert | Mon Aug 01 1994 19:51 | 6 |
| > I agree that
> if one has access to on-line services then it's probably not
> worth it. But for those that don't have access to a PC or
> subscribe to any entertainment type periodicals it may be.
You left out "... or don't have a TV" :-)
|
| 600.11 | Mebe not a good idea. | 11773::BAKER | | Tue Aug 02 1994 09:18 | 9 |
| re: .10
Hey, I like your personal name....you're the skinny one right?
The problem is I don't watch network TV that much, Don't buy
TV guide, and when I do catch Siskel and Ebert there's only
a limited number of movies they review at a given time.
But, it seems the general consensus is that it's not a good
idea....I'll pass it along. Thanks for all the responses!
|
| 600.12 | | DSSDEV::RUST | | Tue Aug 02 1994 13:23 | 14 |
| Re .11: Do keep in mind that "I think it's not a good idea" doesn't
necessarily equate to "it won't make any money". I don't know whether
Jose Canseco turned a profit on _his_ 1-900 line, but apparently lots
of people called it, if only once for the hack value, so it's possible
lots of folks would call a movie line just to see what it was about.
[For them to call back, or to call regularly, I'd expect the reviews
would have to be (a) timely and (b) perceived as more interesting
and/or more accurate than the "professional" reviews in magazines,
newspapers, or TV. Or maybe if the voice that read the reviews was sexy
enough, people would call just for that. "If you would like your
reviews read by Bambi, press 1 now. If you would like your reviews read
by Fabio, press 2 now..." ;-)]
-b
|
| 600.13 | | 11773::BAKER | | Tue Aug 02 1994 13:51 | 12 |
| > Or maybe if the voice that read the reviews was sexy
> enough, people would call just for that. "If you would like your
> reviews read by Bambi, press 1 now. If you would like your reviews read
> by Fabio, press 2 now..." ;-)]
You're killing me! My sides are hurting from laughing!
Good point!
There's a dial and insult line which was started by a
pshychologist from CA. You call the line and for as
long as you care to listen you get insulted. I'd never
call it but it reportedly grosses 50 to 100k monthly!
|