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"By connecting millions of consumers with hundreds of content-providers, RealNetworks is at the epicenter of the digital media industry."
—Thomas Frank, Real Networks CEO

REAL HOPES SUB
MODEL WON’T SINK

"GoldPass" Subscription Service To Offer Music, Film Clips, Games, Software On Monthly Basis
Will users pay a monthly fee for "premium services" on the Net?

It depends whom you ask. As faithful subscribers to the "Appalachian Girls Wash Their Feet" site, we can say with conviction that sometimes the answer is yes, God, yes.

RealNetworks is betting that less-damaged consumers will fork over their credit-card numbers and agree to be billed monthly for its "GoldPass" media subscription service.

For $9.95 per month, users will have access to the new RealPlayer 8, concert footage from HOB.com (including shows by 311, Ziggy Marley and Motley Crue), Valve's "Team Fortress" game, archived content from Real.com, Take5 and Film.com, "sneak peeks" (read: trailers and EPKs?) of upcoming feature films in the "GoldPass Screening Room," TV news footage from ABC.com, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Video and—perhaps most excitingly—"UFO and Paranormal Video footage from UFO TV."

"By connecting millions of consumers with hundreds of content-providers, RealNetworks is at the epicenter of the digital media industry," reads the modest quote fashioned by publicists for Real COO Thomas Frank.

Various content partners in the venture offered upbeat, boilerplate quotes that we simply couldn't bear to reprint. Suffice to say they're very excited and really, reallyhope this will make money.

Indeed, the subscription model is the digital world's current favorite trial balloon. For the scores of content-providers whose B2C efforts have resulted in flagging stock prices, the syndication of multimedia content on a B2B basis represents an enticing alternative. Even so, few non-porn online enterprises–apart from the preternaturally successful AOL—have been able to make a go of the sub service so far.

Maybe they should offer a "Naked rob glaser',390,400);">rob glaser',390,400);">Rob Glaser Webcam."

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