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Hard times to come for the hardware reviewers

It is Darwinian out there

It has become increasingly apparent that there are more Web sites than there are advertisers. This state of affairs has only one logical conclusion: there will be a shakeout, and only the strong will survive.

At least one hardware site is eagerly awaiting the culling of lesser sites. BXBoards has run an editorial deploring those sites without original content, and suggests that some only entered the market in the first place to make a quick buck:

"For those who entered this game with $$$ signs flashing, then I predict that up to 50% of the commercial sites you see now will fail. I for one think this is a GOOD thing," writes Andy, the site's editor.

We reported the beginning of the end for the gaming sector last week, noting UGO Network's new advertising rates. Since so many of the review sites are connected to the UGO network, the decision to cut payments to affiliates to $1 per 1000 impressions will clearly have a knock-on effect.

So what will happen to the hardware reviewers?

Kyle Bennet, of [H]ardOCP commented: "I think what we are seeing now is the end of a great act of Darwinism that we have witnessed in the dotcom industry and it has finally filtered down even to the 'small guys'. Hopefully, what does not kill us will make us stronger."

He applauded UGO for digging in and not giving up like a lot of the networks. He said: "We are standing behind the 100 per cent."

We can't argue with his final sentiment: "Overall I think solid tech sites will be fine. If you think we did not see this coming six months ago and have not been saving up... Well, you would be wrong."

The feeling at BXBoards is similar: the best will keep going, and getting paid for it, and the stragglers will have to do it out of love, or fold. ®

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