We cannot advise you without knowing more details, but here are some generalities:
- Yes, print media is undergoing a transformation (going from steakhouse to McDonald's, I'd call it), but what matters here is what role your product/service plays in the before/after. Is it going to be more useul when the transformation is complete? Is your market broadening or closing? The dangerous/risky thing would be if your product actually aims to STEM the industry, to keep it from undergoing the change. There are huge forces at play here, HUGE money at work (and you will only have success if you take into account the priorities/incentives of everyone at play). If you aim to stem the flow of the Mississippi, a plain old shovel ain't gonna do it.
- Have you looked at the international market for your product/service?
- Have you looked at all segments of the industry? Are you only looking at the woes at the L.A. Times and not taking a look at the community papers?
That's pretty much all I can think of without knowing more. Look at all angles. You ask about risk, but risk is what's left when you exhaust the possibilities.
The words you use: "industry in crisis"... They stink of opportunity. Be glad you can do something in an industry in crisis. There's nothing worse than trying to break into an industry that has everything going perfectly, there's little opportunity in that.
- The market for this product is broadening. More and more newspapers are considering the approach that this solution facilitates. The solution certainly does not stem the change, it would actually assist greatly in accelerating it and some of the challenges that they are facing would be greatly reduced.
- I have not investigated the market outside of North America for this solution, however it would be a universal solution, as the problem applies to any print media that sells ad space.
- I've taken a broad view of the industry within North America. The problem isn't specific to one particular newspaper, the cost cutting measures that have been taken that have created the need for this solution have happened in Ohio, California, Florida, Texas... BIG newspapers. I'm sure I could name a paper in every state who has considered the approach that this solution facilitates. As for the community newspapers... Well, the solution applies to them also. The beauty of this solution is that it scales. The LA Times could use it and a tiny community paper like the Southampton Press could make use of it, if they chose to take the approach that would call for it.
- Yes, print media is undergoing a transformation (going from steakhouse to McDonald's, I'd call it), but what matters here is what role your product/service plays in the before/after. Is it going to be more useul when the transformation is complete? Is your market broadening or closing? The dangerous/risky thing would be if your product actually aims to STEM the industry, to keep it from undergoing the change. There are huge forces at play here, HUGE money at work (and you will only have success if you take into account the priorities/incentives of everyone at play). If you aim to stem the flow of the Mississippi, a plain old shovel ain't gonna do it.
- Have you looked at the international market for your product/service?
- Have you looked at all segments of the industry? Are you only looking at the woes at the L.A. Times and not taking a look at the community papers?
That's pretty much all I can think of without knowing more. Look at all angles. You ask about risk, but risk is what's left when you exhaust the possibilities.
The words you use: "industry in crisis"... They stink of opportunity. Be glad you can do something in an industry in crisis. There's nothing worse than trying to break into an industry that has everything going perfectly, there's little opportunity in that.