Comments on: Instrumental Media Group

By: Bill Collins

Bill Collins — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:32:44 +0000

Adrian:

Like Phil Austin, I am one of the “alumni” that either worked with or for Bob Clarke at Instrumental Media Group. In fact, in 2004 Bob and I co-founded http://www.aka.tv, the world’s first news-and-analysis web site which covers our industry. While working with Bob, I had some good times with him and with Phil, travelling and learning about this industry.

Yes, it’s true that it was challenging sometimes to work with Bob. But, I’m sure that some of my former co-workers have said the same thing about me. I have learned a lot about this business from Bob, and I hope that in the future he and I can find mutually beneficial occassions to work together.

Bob’s vision for what he liked to call Captive Audience Networks was really critical as this industry re-emerged from the depths of the 2000-2002 recession. Bob always said that it was inevitable that the big retailers such as Tesco, Wal-Mart Kroger, Carrefour, Target, etc. would eventually come to understand that their stores are a medium, and that they will enhance this historical reality by owning and controlling their own screen-media networks that consumers view inside those stores.

Today, we see Wal-Mart (at least in the USA), stepping up to finance and control its own network. Target has done the same. Bob’s prediction from several years back (an edgy prediction at the time) is one that is now coming to fruition, at least in part.

I’m sure we’ll see more of Bob Clarke in this industry. It’s growing fast now, so there’s lots of room for all of us.

Best regards,

Bill Collins
DecisionPoint Media Insights

By: SK PLATT

SK PLATT — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:24:21 +0000

I read your recent post about the demise of IMG. I must say, in all due respect, that I was somewhat upset in the harsh treatment of Bob Clarke in the piece.

Bob is an-in-your face guy. He is also smart, and if he either likes and/or respects you, he will let you get in a word or two edgewise.

There is another side of Bob’s bravado that needs to be considered. 5 or 7 years ago, early industry guys like Bob were taking arrows in the back, as they blazed the trail for the rest of us to follow. Who but a guy like Bob could convince a retail powerhouse like Tesco in those early days that he could power their network with great content? Bob traveled the globe spreading the gospel of digital signage. A lesser approach, by a mild-mannored type, at that time, might have resulted in much less impact. I am not crediting Bob Clark with single-handily building this industry, but I believe that history will bear out his contributions as a leader.

It would be great if you could grant Bob that respect and dignity.

SKPlatt

By: phil austin

phil austin — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:36:38 +0000

Adrian,
It would be good to put some context into the charecter assasination of IMG and Bob. I probably worked with him as much as most and spent an un natural amount of time travelling the world with him. There is no doubt that the man is often difficut and has an enormous ego but do not ignore the genius in him. Instrument needed a foil for Bob which it never succeeded in attracting. If they had then the genius would have been balanced by the other entity on his board and Instrument would be riding high today. There is no doubt that they (and he) paved the way for most and guided many aspects of the “industry” that companies such as Can Media have followed and benefited from. I doubt we have seen the last of Bob and his team but I for one will miss the forward thinking.
BTW, if the law suit referenced relates to the skirmish between Can Media and Instrument then the facts are soemwhat off the mark.

Phil Austin