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Will Boards survive the Covid?

  • 05-04-2020 5:16pm
    #1
    Silly Gilly
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭


    The group owner of boards.ie, Journal Media, has implemented pay cuts across the company of between 5 and 20% as a result of Covid-19. It has also closed fora.ie and scaled back the42.ie.

    Ironically, posts are massively increased on boards in comparison with previous years due to the coronavirus crisis but unfortunately advertising revenue has fallen through the floor in the same period. The site is creaking under the strain with timeouts and 502 errors most evenings. The owners are unlikely to want to throw more money at a loss making entity so is the site doomed if this situation continues?

    https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0401/1127818-journal-media/


«1

Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,311 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I heard there is a supernova imminent, we're all doomed and other apocalyptic scenarios you can dream up.

    Boards will endure just fine.


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    If we’re judging companies on how they’ve helped through it then it hasn’t a hope, and you wouldn’t be sorry to see it. Have went out of their way to make this as difficult as possible for posters.





    /


  • #4
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,129 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    It's probably carrying the load for other parts of their company.


  • #5
    Ten of Swords
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,063 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ten of Swords


    There was talk of a pay cut for the mods

    From next week it's coke or hookers :(

    Moderator: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender, Vegan & Vegetarian

    Category Moderator: Social & Fun



  • #6
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,084 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Silly Gilly wrote: »
    but unfortunately advertising revenue has fallen through the floor in the same period.

    How do you know this?


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  • #7
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    The hamsters will just have to get by on fewer of whatever it is hamsters eat


  • #8
    Your Face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,275 ✭✭✭Your Face


    The reasoning behind the Purge thread makes sense now.


  • #9
    0lddog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭0lddog


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    How do you know this?


    Since when do serial re-regers have to know what they stick up on Boards is true ?


  • #10
    cj maxx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,545 ✭✭✭✭cj maxx


    Judging by the way some of the AH threads have gone cannibalistic, maybe, maybe not


  • #11
    Silly Gilly
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭Silly Gilly


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    How do you know this?

    It is stated in the linked RTÉ article
    In a statement, Journal Media said that it, like all news and media organisations, has seen a dramatic and unprecedented drop in advertising revenue as a result of the crisis.

    The statement continued: "This sudden decline and the uncertainty of when commercial activity will return to normal levels is a real threat to the existence of the news service which TheJournal.ie provides free to the public.
    0lddog wrote: »
    Since when do serial re-regers have to know what they stick up on Boards is true ?

    I'm not a serial re-regger by the way. I'm raising a valid point that the longer this situation continues the greater the threat to the existence of this site. It has never made a profit as far as I can tell.


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  • #12
    BuboBubo
    Registered Users Posts: 927 ✭✭✭BuboBubo


    It will be interesting to see which businesses return in the aftermath.

    Advertising revenue is down in all media outlets, car sales have plummeted.

    Boards has survived through a lot over the years, I hope it continues to do so.


  • #13
    Quantum Erasure
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,746 ✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    Harry Palmr wrote: »
    The hamsters will just have to get by on fewer of whatever it is hamsters eat

    ham


  • #14
    Salary Negotiator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭Salary Negotiator


    If Boards does go under them the few re-regs are ****ed, they might actually have to leave the house.


  • #15
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Salary Negotiator wrote: »
    If Boards does go under them the few re-regs are ****ed, they might actually have to leave the house

    :confused:


  • #16
    coinop
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 315 ✭✭coinop


    Am I correct in thinking Board's only source of income is (a) advertising and (b) subscribers?
    Advertising revenue has fallen off a cliff as companies are cutting spending to survive the quarantines and I can't imagine anybody is paying money to subscribe to this site except a few boomers. I'd be interested to have a look at Board's accounting books.


  • #17
    The One Doctor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,339 ✭✭✭The One Doctor


    I doubt it'll go but funding will be cut, everyone uses adblovker nowadays anyway. I'd go off to Reddit where you can actually down vote loons and conspiracy theorist like you find in the covid19 forums.


  • #18
    Duffy the Vampire Slayer
    Registered Users Posts: 5,382 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    The One Doctor wrote: »
    I doubt it'll go but funding will be cut, everyone uses adblovker nowadays anyway. I'd go off to Reddit where you can actually down vote loons and conspiracy theorist like you find in the covid19 forums.

    Boards has really gone to the dogs when you have to go to Reddit to get away from those loons.


  • #19
    Silly Gilly
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭Silly Gilly


    coinop wrote: »
    Am I correct in thinking Board's only source of income is (a) advertising and (b) subscribers?
    Advertising revenue has fallen off a cliff as companies are cutting spending to survive the quarantines and I can't imagine anybody is paying money to subscribe to this site except a few boomers. I'd be interested to have a look at Board's accounting books.

    They also have the Talk To forums but companies are deserting it at an alarming rate. Sky are the latest to leave after AIB, eir, Tesco, Three, Virgin and Vodafone. I posted about this previously here

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112534478&postcount=89

    The site was dying before this catastrophe so people are free to believe it is going to remain fine but the evidence suggests otherwise.


  • #20
    Wheety
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,512 ✭✭✭Wheety


    Well it survived the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so I can't see why not.

    Of course back then it was a weekly newsletter.


  • #21
    MrMusician18
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,594 ✭✭✭MrMusician18


    Silly Gilly wrote: »
    They also have the Talk To forums but companies are deserting it at an alarming rate. Sky are the latest to leave after AIB, eir, Tesco, Three, Virgin and Vodafone. I posted about this previously here

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112534478&postcount=89

    The site was dying before this catastrophe so people are free to believe it is going to remain fine but the evidence suggests otherwise.

    The site is dying true, but it is doing well out of the covid crisis tbf.

    If it goes, it won't be covid that will have killed it but the collapse in traffic after the 2013 hack.


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  • #22
    branie2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,305 ✭✭✭✭branie2


    I'm sure it will


  • #23
    Silly Gilly
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭Silly Gilly


    I think she's dying folks. The place has been falling apart for several weeks now.


  • #24
    Silly Gilly
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭Silly Gilly


    It looks like, yet again, Gilly was right. It seems the current owners have had enough and there is now one last desperate roll of the dice to save the site. However proposing subscriptions to be surrounded by malcontent cranks, I'm not sure I can see that going well.

    Let it not be said that I am not doing my bit so here it my tip for Odhran and the new gang:

    Boards.ie - Now ye're racist!

    Catchy, I think.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=115700658


  • #25
    Ubbquittious
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,256 ✭✭✭Ubbquittious


    Hopefully they will become less reliant on the Amighty GooG who would eat up a massive amount of advertising revenue.


    I'll disable my adbocker and click on a bunch of ads over the next few weeks to make sure a pack of ham can be bought for the hamsters


  • #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    For the contempt they’ve treated their user base with for years, it’s a bit rich to be coming with the hand out now.


  • #27
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,903 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Can't understand why it shouldn't, selling data is big business nowadays


  • #28
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,487 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    For the contempt they’ve treated their user base with for years, it’s a bit rich to be coming with the hand out now.

    We get it. You hate boards. Why not just leave for good?


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Fighting Tao wrote: »
    We get it. You hate boards. Why not just leave for good?

    Bit of thanks hunting that adds very little really. Do you think everyone loves the companies that provide entertainment?


  • #30
    TuringBot47
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 991 ✭✭✭TuringBot47


    Can we stick a "do not resuscitate banner" on boards?

    Just let it go.

    Mods are doing more damage.


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  • #31
    ILoveYourVibes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    not as it currently is no..scaled back maybe ...


  • #32
    6541
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,951 ✭✭✭6541


    is boards a commercial enterprise ?
    Boards has given so much to the people of Ireland it should be commended.


  • #33
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,487 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    Bit of thanks hunting that adds very little really. Do you think everyone loves the companies that provide entertainment?

    Not thanks hunting at all. No one is forcing you to use Boards. Normally people stop using what they don’t like.


  • #34
    faceman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,649 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    TuringBot47 wrote: »
    Can we stick a "do not resuscitate banner" on boards?

    Just let it go.

    Mods are doing more damage.

    One of my biggest disappointments on this website was when I became a mod and found out there was no great mod conspiracy theory after all.

    Boards has survived for a long time and will continue to do so. You’ll be grand. Think of how unhappy your life could be without it?


  • #35
    AutoTuning
    Closed Accounts Posts: 423 ✭✭AutoTuning


    Long may it survive. I’m genuinely surprised that they’re struggling for ad revenues given the current boom in online shopping.

    I often find the ads that are being served are totally irrelevant to me. Start selling some local ad space to Irish online business directly and perhaps you’ll have more success.


  • #36
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    faceman wrote: »
    One of my biggest disappointments on this website was when I became a mod and found out there was no great mod conspiracy theory after all.

    Boards has survived for a long time and will continue to do so. You’ll be grand. Thing of you unhappy your life could be without it?

    I don’t think anyone ever thought there was a conspiracy. Inept and self serving maybe.


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  • #37
    suicide_circus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    If it were announced that the sitr was on its last legs i'd probably pay a subscription


  • #38
    Heart Break Kid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 834 ✭✭✭Heart Break Kid


    42 was already on its last legs before Covid


  • #39
    ILoveYourVibes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    AutoTuning wrote: »
    Long may it survive. I’m genuinely surprised that they’re struggling for ad revenues given the current boom in online shopping.

    I often find the ads that are being served are totally irrelevant to me. Start selling some local ad space to Irish online business directly and perhaps you’ll have more success.
    A lot of irish businesses are not going online. They are going under.


  • #40
    faceman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,649 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    I don’t think anyone ever thought there was a conspiracy. Inept and self serving maybe.

    Hahahahahaha

    Ok.....


  • #41
    AutoTuning
    Closed Accounts Posts: 423 ✭✭AutoTuning


    ILoveYourVibes wrote: »
    A lot of irish businesses are not going online. They are going under.

    Plenty are going online.


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  • #42
    Bigmac1euro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,468 ✭✭✭Bigmac1euro


    suicide_circus wrote: »
    If it were announced that the sitr was on its last legs i'd probably pay a subscription

    Same. Boards has done a lot for me over the years. And for free. I wouldn’t mind giving back.


  • #43
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Bigmac1euro wrote: »
    Same. Boards has done a lot for me over the years. And for free. I wouldn’t mind giving back.

    You’ve had the opportunity to subscribe for years.


  • #44
    AutoTuning
    Closed Accounts Posts: 423 ✭✭AutoTuning


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    You’ve had the opportunity to subscribe for years.

    It’s not very obvious though.
    Should be made easier & be able to accept ApplePay & GooglePay etc for ease of mobile payment.


  • #45
    Deshawn
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 192 ✭✭Deshawn


    AutoTuning wrote: »
    It’s not very obvious though.
    Should be made easier & be able to accept ApplePay & GooglePay etc for ease of mobile payment.

    That costs money


  • #46
    AutoTuning
    Closed Accounts Posts: 423 ✭✭AutoTuning


    Deshawn wrote: »
    That costs money

    If it generates more income then it makes money. Sales-Cost of Sales = Profit. There’s always some degree of overhead in sales.

    It’s like all those shops that used to refuse to take cards, forgetting there are also overheads and processing fees to bank cash, and especially large volumes of coins, which many of them happily accepted.


  • #47
    faceman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,649 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    ReginaldSmythV wrote: »
    You’ve had the opportunity to subscribe for years.

    You should open your Christmas presents or something


  • #48
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    faceman wrote: »
    You should open your Christmas presents or something

    Done and dusted. Was a fairly obvious and simple remark anyway, and having subscribed in the past myself I found the reply about being able to use mobile payments a valid and useful one. You’d probably need to climb down a bit.


  • #49
    begbysback
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭begbysback


    Take a chill pill people, this site could run off an old pentium Packard bell box and a dozen lines of php, it ain’t going nowhere.


  • #50
    Choosehowevr.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 148 ✭✭Choosehowevr.


    begbysback wrote: »
    Take a chill pill people, this site could run off an old pentium Packard bell box and a dozen lines of php, it ain’t going nowhere.

    That's what I was thinking

    I heard they just add a gigabyte of ram when the site crashes


  • #51
    atr2002
    Closed Accounts Posts: 96 ✭✭atr2002


    Fighting Tao wrote: »
    Not thanks hunting at all. No one is forcing you to use Boards. Normally people stop using what they don’t like.

    You're mixing up the admin of the site with the site itself.


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