opinion

Pornographic Preferences

There's an interesting discussion currently running on XBiz' popular "Speak Your Mind!" message board, entitled Who needs Internet porn when there's satellite, digital TV and recorders for that?, which has really got me thinking about our personal pornographic preferences, and the impact of these choices on the future of our marketplace. Let's take a look at the broader picture:

XBiz community member "jasonfree" began the discussion by commenting that he had visited a friend who has satellite and digital television, a DVD recorder, and many XXX channels. This allowed them to record and edit programs, then burn DVD's of their compilations. This left jasonfree wondering if "Internet porn is useless for surfers."

There was a flurry of responses to this question, along with commentary on personal television viewing habits and other anecdotal remarks. Highlights included Board Moderator edgeprod opining that "Your average Internet porn consumer doesn't have satellite TV, a Digital Video Recorder, or perhaps even a LAN and a DVD Burner." While market penetration of these items is increasing, his observation that "a lot of the consumers have families, and don't want to jack off in the living room." was dead on.

The fact that many of our customers are actively trying to hide the fact that they ARE our customers has been discussed in the past, and in context of the "multimediazation" of Internet content, with the topic of including explicit audio on adult Web pages. It's one thing to have quality audio on a video clip, and quite another to have "Welcome to Suzy's Suck Shack" unexpectedly blare from your speakers at 1am while you're "balancing your checkbook." Try to explain that one to the wife...

edgeprod went on to comment that "...it's ridiculous to say that broadcast porn is a threat to the Internet [porn] industry." This comment really connected some dots for me, as I considered the implications of segmented and homogenous industries. Porn is porn, whether it's delivered via print, Internet, video, or via any other media. While each media has developed its own segment of the industry, perhaps a more "comprehensive" approach and viewpoint is in order – but more about that later...

xxxads summed up one of the most significant differences between Internet and Broadcast porn: "Lets face it, the Internet offers on demand content you just can't get with TV" – and therein lies the 'Net's greatest strength; the ability to "narrowcast" to niche audiences on an on-demand basis.

XBiz Hostess SeeSea echoed the sentiment: "You can not compare TV to the Internet. TV is programmed; you watch what they plan for you to watch – sure you can change channels, but it is again a pre-determined program. If you are in the mood for pregnant midget boxers you might have to wait until next Tuesday at 1am and then the kids might be up sick. The Internet is spontaneous, you can find what you want when you want it."

It was Jon Adolfsson who commented "As a producer you definitely want the whole cake; Internet, DVDs and then get on VOD in whatever way you can." I had to wholeheartedly agree with this statement, which led me back to contemplating a more comprehensive approach to producing and marketing porn: Understand what the people want, and then give it to them.

sexcam and porno-addict considered the cross-promotional possibilities of advertising pay-sites and DVD downloads via satellite programming, relegating a content delivery mechanism to an advertising venue, which might work as well either way, i.e. using Web sites to promote pay-per-view satellite programming.

At this point, I offered my two cents on the subject: "From a consumer's standpoint, I'll tell you that I would much rather watch porn on my big screen than on my laptop, and find myself working on re-purposing content we've shot for the Web to be watched on TV (galleries and videos on VHS/DVD) – making a great up-sell for my wife's 'single girl' site."

This is something that I'd like to expand upon: While larger sites would require perhaps prohibitive capitalization to repurpose their libraries, and smaller sites run into prohibitive content licensing restrictions, site's who control the production – and therefore usage rights – of their own content, especially 'hobbyist' and 'real amateur' sites, have an opportunity to leverage technology in a way that allows them to provide content in whatever medium the consumer wants.

For instance, typical live Webcam shows where the talent performs 'member requests' is as "on demand" as it gets, and presents an opportunity for content leveraging. A mini-DV video camera can record the action for later streaming as well as VHS/DVD production, and licensing to cable / satellite providers. Still photos can simultaneously be shot for gallery promotion, and members area updates. Audio can be stripped for pre-recorded phone fantasies with sound bites made into cell phone 'ring tones.' Today's hot color inkjets and quality papers can be used for an inexpensive 'in house' print publication, and there's no limit to the number of calendars, mouse pads, coffee cups and T-shirts you can offer...

As you can see, my attitude isn't one of "either, or" – it's one of "having your cake and eating it too..." Adopting the strengths of each medium while mitigating their weaknesses is the way to go, and offering consumer's as much choice as possible is the key to success. Bridging the gap between the convenience and quality of television with the on-demand and content-rich nature of the Internet is the task at hand, and until this is done, both systems will have a place in the delivery of all information – not just porn.

Have something to add? Join the discussion by following the link below. Enjoy! ~ Stephen

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Reinventing Intimacy: A Look at AI's Implications for Adult Platforms

The adult industry has long revolved around delivering pleasure and entertainment, but now it’s moving into new territory: intimacy, connection and emotional fulfillment. And AI companions are at the forefront of that shift.

Daniel Keating ·
Show More