Rumours: Getty Images Launches Subscription Stock Imagery Service

Rumours (rumours!) has it that Getty Images has launched the already earlier this year announced subscription stock imagery service yesterday, Friday 12, 2005. Getty is already offering an editorial subscription product.

After the acquisition of Digital Vision in spring this year, Klein said on April 20, 2005 that "this transaction gives us a wealth of wholly-owned content, which will allow us to explore innovative offerings such as subscription licensing models and content for emerging broadband-enabled platforms, such as wireless."

Klein commented that "a Getty subscription service would not be like some others that provide what he called 'crap'. He said some services offer large numbers of images but reach those numbers by supplying a lot of similar images from the same shoots."

"A decision about a new subscription service involving the images will be made in the coming months. Klein said the fact that they were discussing the subscription idea with reporters and analysts speaks to the seriousness of the offering." (Seattle Post)

Jonathan Klein added later around July 26 (after reporting the numbers for Q II/2005), that this service should launch in August 2005.

Some of the similar services of other companies (e.g. Photos.com/JupiterImages; Index Open and Photos To Go Unlimited/Index Stock) are available online since almost two years.

Earlier in April "Jupitermedia Chairman and CEO Alan M. Meckler ... told analysts that his company would do everything necessary to defend its dominance over the subscription end of the market." (Stock Asylum)

For anyone interested, Bahar Gidwani of IndexStock has just finished his examination on "Subscription Customer Behaviour, Part 2" yesterday.

More details on monday. Jonathan Klein is busy and off the phone. He is talking to analysts in the Barbetta Restaurant about a new press release subscription model (Link 1; Link 2) that recently attracted his attention.
Note: Up to that point of confirmation the information provided here remains, despite some facts, a latrine rumour.

[Thx to nope and others. What you once wrote about Image Source on June 27, 2005, had been  -- sorry -- crap so far (" Looks like Image Source has been sold!").
I hope this time it´ll be a better experience]

Comments

[Anon Again]

Rumors?!? Where's your nack for research, Andy?

Go see for yourself:

http://creative.gettyimages.com/source/frontdoor/DefaultRfLanding.aspx