This story gives a picture of the consolidation that has taken place in the industry over the last few years, provides a breakdown of the companies that have been acquired and the acquirer. It also outlines some of the effects acquisitions have had on photographers.
Getty Images has moved into the micropayment market for stock photography with the purchase of iStockphoto for $50 million. Industry sources estimate that iStockphotos gross annual revenue for 2005 was between $5 and $8 million. The fee for using an iStockphoto image starts at $1.00.
Tom Grill says when comparing RPI from one
agency to another, photographers must keep in
mind the number of selects along with the type
of material that is being selected. The overall
return from the shoot takes precedence.
Jupiterimages has acquired all of the shares of Stock Image S.A.S (www.stockimage.fr) for approximately U.S. $11.1 million in cash. This includes the Stock Image RM brand and its RF Pixland (www.pixland.fr) brand.
This group of releases includes: Jupiterimages Invests in Hungarian stock sites Stock.xchng and Stockxpert.com; Football Association Signs UK's Action Images as Photo Partner; IView and Alamy Reveal Pro-Photo Tool; PunchStock & UpperCut Opens New York City Office; SuperStock Opens New York City Office; and SAA's "Thinking Stock" Event In London.
This survey will attempt to measure the income and expense trends for photographers between 2004 and 2005, as well as the percent of income photographers are receiving from the three major brands relative to the income from all other stock agencies. There is also a separate survey for agencies and portals. Everyone can participate including non-subscribers.
Getty Images reported revenue for Q4 of 2005 of $185.8 million compared to $162.1 million for Q4 of 2004 and $184.5 million in the previous quarter. Investors are unhappy because Getty didn't meet analysts expectations.
This group of releases includes: Jupiterimages Names New Creative Team Leaders; ShutterStock Acquires Photosights.com; Media Bakery to Represent Index Stock RM; Index Stock Imagery Expands to the Czech Republic; Beateworks Announces Inclusion in Pearson Asset Library; ASPP Announces Sponsors of March 2006 Education Conference; The Trust for Public Land to Underwrite EcoPhotography's Next Book Project; and the UK's Capture, Ltd. Launches a New Online System.
This edition includes items on: PhotoAlto Produces RM Collection; iStockphoto Updates Site; Getty Or Jupiter; Picture House In Chicago; End of an Era for Nikon; More Acquisitions For Amana; Reuse Fees; PictureArts Images Removed From Getty Site; Newspaper Reading; and New Stock Photo Information Resource.
After reading Story 790 Jeff Burke of JupiterImages called to my attention that JIUnlimited.com in not JupiterImages primary web site. Rather, "Jupiterimages.com is the JI 'mothership' website" and currently has over 740,000 images on it. This story provides updated numbers for Jupiter and expanded information on other portals.