AfriCam is being kept afloat by donations from avid "Cammers", and the new consortium running the revived game viewing site says enough donations are coming in to keep the site live - and free - for the time being.
Describing the support as an "amazing show of devotion", AfriCam director Peter Armitage says donations from loyal AfriCam viewers, mostly in the US and UK, are making it possible for the site to stay live and its content to remain free. "The amount is not huge," he says, "but it`s enough to keep the site up and running." The site currently has four game viewing cameras live.
The consortium that bought AfriCam after its provisional liquidation late last year has stated that it may have to resort to a subscription business model unless it can find sufficient sponsors to make free content viable.
"However, in the meantime, we have asked viewers to donate money in order to keep an open site. This might seem unconventional, but enough money poured in during the first day or two to keep us rolling. Donations are still coming in, and because we are offering our services for free, it is likely that we can keep AfriCam going in this way for up to six months," says Armitage.
The site`s return has been widely welcomed by keen virtual game viewers, with over 14 000 users registering on the site in its first few weeks back online. "This is without us doing any marketing at all," Armitage says. "The registered users` base is growing fast, and we expect to get back to the 500 000 a month mark within a reasonable period."
Armitage says AfriCam`s online users` survey indicates that viewers are prepared to pay subscriptions to access the game cams. Armitage says around 20% of those who have registered as users can be expected to be willing to subscribe to the site. "This many subscriptions would make the business viable," says Armitage.
However, the consortium has not yet made a decision on a subscription model and is hoping to maintain at least some of its content as a free offering.
Related stories:
AfriCam`s back
AfriCam back online soon
AfriCam founders in bid to revive virtual game reserve
Share
