Last month we wrote a story titled, “Confirmed, SAY Media Exits Media Business, Layoffs Hit Canada,” and throughout it we highlighted various changes to SAY Media’s business model. We just received an update from SAY Media which helps clarify how the company is moving forward. SAY Media is still very much still in the media business, however as we mentioned they did sell off their owned and operated properties and have now shifted to focus on third-party publishers. The company will put its efforts on their core product Tempest which is SAY’s publishing platform.
As the fight to gain and keep readers attention continues to be a top priority for publishers of all sizes whether it be a magazine, newspaper, or other online online publisher, and according to the company’s website “Tempest is our award-winning publishing platform, designed to create rich editorial experiences that bring content front and center. Unlike a general purpose CMS, Tempest is built from the ground up to support the specific needs of the modern digital magazine.”
Of course this is a core area for the company and one which they have had tremendous success in over the years so it does make sense for the company to go back to its roots. One advantage that Tempest does seem to offer its its ability to help publishers drive revenue with a number of rich advertising and content marketing solutions. The balance between providing a digital solution and driving revenue has been a major hurdle for traditional publishers who have invested millions of dollars in offline support, systems and staffing and want to make the transition to offering more digital products.