Margins Check: YouTube’s tools, recession scares and more

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect the wireless industry.
–YouTube announced it unveiled new tools to allow content creators to track the geographic makeup of their audience, using Internet Protocol data, and study a timeline charting a video’s popularity. Up until now, the only publicly available information was the number of views, comments and ratings. The move shows that those in the user-generated content space may need to consider the needs of users beyond simply giving them a platform to express themselves.
–Ad spending on network TV continues to drop, while ad spending on cable TV is on the rise. The numbers show that content providers tied to network TV outlets may want to rethink their partnerships.
–A recession continues to loom over the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence fell further in March, hitting a 16-year low, according to new statistics. The situation may cause those companies considering major spending initiatives to rethink their timing.