I totally agree:thumbsup

We don't need to remove the Free stuff just censor it and not show pink. maybe the TGP owners and paysite owners need to get together and work it out.

it would just mean better conversions and more sales if we put a squeeze on the free hardcore

This is the most flawed analogy I've heard in a while. The business model NBC and major networks have been using since the 50's is based on product advertising. They make money from advertising, not the shows themselves. HBO makes money from advertising, but mostly from memberships.

The difference with the porn industry is that within mainstream television, an advertiser can promote ANY product. While within the porn industry, we can promote only porn related products. If NBC was trying to make money by promoting it's OWN shows, while still airing them free of charge, they would have been out of business a long time ago.

I'd like to issue a request to any sponsor who has the data available on tgp traffic. What are your average conversions as compared to other types of non-free traffic? What are your Chargeback rates as compared to non-free traffic? If tgp traffic is playing a role in high chargeback ratios, I'd certainly be interested to hear it. I think many of us don't want to be thrown into the same boat as webmasters that give it away for free. If the data proves this traffic source to be a contribution to the problem, I'd definately agree with damage: Stop paying out for this type of traffic, because at the same time you are penalizing those webmasters with quality traffic.

This was the original post on this tread... or at least the majority of it...

This is from the ARS website members area:

I'm confused....

I thought the $39.95 Monthly was supposed to drop to help with this issue

I'm sure I'm missing something.. so figured I'd ask....

I asked elsewhere, but got no response.. figured someone around here could help me with it...

:helpme

I don't see this as much of a big problem....build your own processing system instead of using a 3rd-party (as you'll have to follow whatever rules they put in place).

Now obviously this means more hassles for you, but in the long-run even without the fact you can pretty much do as you wish (long as you keep those cb % down), most processors/gateways charge quite a bit less % than 3rd-party billing.

Something to think about ;p

This is not to bash any 3rd-party processors out there, as you do your jobs well as a "service". I'm just wondering why more people (especially who have the money), just don't invest a little in their future.

People pay for HBO when a free advertising supported version of the same thing (with different content) already exists. That is not an analogy, it's a fact. Your argument actually would seem to be that free sites should exist, but that they should be advertising a wider variety of products. Nowhere do you make any argument that takes away from the idea that free and pay versions of the same service can (and do) co-exist successfully.

Would you also argue that HBO should never buy ads on broadcast TV because they would supporting the free version of themselves?

As far as free sites selling other products or services, Sleazy Dream made plenty of money without selling porn site memberships for a long time. He sold personals memberships. The reason he changed his system was because there was (obviously) more money in selling the advertising to the highest bidder. That highest bidder today appears to mostly be porn sites.

The fact that cable TV and broadcast TV co-exist shows that free and pay entertainment content can make money simultaneously. Perhaps free sites need to expand what the promote and pay sites need to make sure that their content is, like HBO, of such high quality, that people are willing to pay for it.