Barter service allows newspapers to brand videos and sell their own local advertising around the content.
Gloucester, MA, December 18, 2012 – Local and community newspapers are now able to offer 600 original cooking, wine and food videos; 3,000 recipes; and related content for both their websites and the print edition of the paper. The material is made available by Media Program Network (MPN), a content syndication company created for the distribution of lifestyle video content to newspaper publishers. In addition to the existing library, MPN produces a minimum of three new videos each week.
"There are four reasons newspapers are interested in the service," said Joe Langhan, President of MPN. "It provides original, professionally produced TV and print content; newspapers get to brand the content as their own; each newspaper sells local advertising and retains 100% of the revenue; and there is no cost to the paper," he said. "The business relationship is based on barter-syndication, meaning no money is exchanged and each party sells their own share of advertising - the newspaper selling local and MPN selling national," he stated.
The desire for food, cooking and wine programming has exploded on national TV and the Internet - where viewers now watch two full-time cable channels and numerous hit shows on major networks like FOX, Bravo and NBC. Consumers also continue to flock to the Internet to get recipes, instruction and cooking advice on demand. Newspapers, previously known as a provider of recipes and food information, can now get back into the business virtually overnight. Also, if a paper wants to use the material in the print edition, each video is accompanied by a story, a recipe and high quality image files ready for printing.
"Any newspaper can combine the service with existing food content or create a completely new print and/or online food page," stated MPN Chief Operating Officer (COO) Richard Wadman. "The service has been in development with several newspapers in the Boston area for the past two years and is now ready to be offered nationally," Wadman said.
The Gloucester Times was the first paper to carry the service. "The newspaper industry is undergoing some major changes in focus from print to digital readership. In both platforms quality content is king and the Taste of the Times provides amazing content in paper and online. … Not only are we provided with top notch content, we are able to generate revenue with sponsorship opportunities for these sections as well," stated Mark Zappala, Publisher - Gloucester Times, VP of Sales & Marketing, CNHI- Northeast Division.
Several newspapers are in discussion to begin carrying the service and rollouts are scheduled to begin the first quarter of 2013.
About Media Program Network (MPN):
Media Program Network (MPN) is a privately held content syndication company created by veterans of the newspaper business and founders of The Food Network, Wine TV and other TV networks. MPN’s service is designed to help newspapers present professional video and other content.
The company is based in Gloucester, Massachusetts. For more about MPN, visit www.mediaprogramnetwork.com.
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