MAM
Jupiter Media Metrix report presents bleak picture for paid online content revenues
US based Jupiter Media Metrix (JMM) has predicted that revenues from paid online content will grow to only $5.8 billion by 2006, up from $1.4 billion in 2002.
JMM that claims to be the global leader in Internet and new technology analysis unveiled the report at the ninth annual Jupiter Media Forum last week. Revenues for general content will reach $2.3 billion in 2006 up from $700 million in 2001, while revenues from online games and digital music will be $1.8 billion and $1.7 billion by 2006, respectively, the report says. Last year, the figures stood at $260 million and $30 million, respectively.
Although Jupiter forecasts that general content revenues will hit $2.3 billion by 2006, the market will stay relatively fragmented. Within the general content category, the highest revenue generating genres in 2006 will be audio/video entertainment ($600 million), adult entertainment ($400 million) and financial and business news content ($350 million).
Genres expected to generate the least revenue in 2006 include: consumer/shopping aids ($85 million), content for children ($95 million) and sports content ($95 million). In addition, Jupiter revealed the findings of a March 2002 Consumer Survey, which had 70 per cent of the respondents saying that they would not pay for content online.
The figures indicate that the mass market still largely shuns anything resembling a subscription online. However, in the near term, media companies will create subscription services through packaging, exclusivity and added interactive features, the study notes. Over time, the companies must use the gradual US broadband transition to reset industry ground rules and recondition consumers’ expectations.
42 per cent of online adults expect over time that people will have to pay for content on the Internet. Consumers’ attitudes toward paying for content have, if anything, worsened since August 2000, when 45 per cent of respondents answered the question in the same way, the study says.
The silver lining is that Jupiter analysts believe that major media properties are in a better position than they were four or five years ago, as they no longer face well-financed start-ups giving away quality programming in an effort to lure new users.
Buying family medical insurance online in India has become a common option for individuals who want to secure health coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. However, many buyers are unsure about the exact steps involved in selecting and purchasing the right plan online.
In this guide, you will know the step-by-step process of buying family medical insurance online in India, along with the key factors to review before purchasing a suitable policy.
Step 1: Assess Your Family’s Healthcare Needs
Before buying online health insurance, check the healthcare needs of all family members. Check age, existing illnesses, regular medicines, and the likely need for hospital care later. This helps in selecting a suitable sum insured, policy type, and level of cover. It also reduces the chance of buying a plan that appears suitable but does not meet actual medical needs.
Step 2: Visit the Insurance Company’s Official Website
After understanding the family’s needs, visit the insurer’s official website and read the plan details carefully. Use the official platform to review eligibility, policy wording, waiting periods, cover details, exclusions, and renewal terms.
This step gives a clearer understanding of how the policy works before payment is made. It also helps avoid confusion caused by incomplete summaries on other pages.
Step 3: Compare Available Family Health Insurance Plans
A family medical insurance policy should be compared on factors beyond the premium. Review the sum insured, hospital network, room rent limits, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment coverage, and waiting periods. It is also important to check treatment sub-limits and specific policy conditions.
Careful comparison helps determine whether a plan provides balanced coverage and whether its terms are suitable for the healthcare needs of the entire family.
Step 4: Choose the Right Policy and Start the Online Purchase
Once the options have been compared, select the policy that best fits the family’s medical needs and budget. Before starting the application, review the covered members, policy term, benefits, and main conditions again. This is an important stage because errors here can lead to the wrong cover amount, an unsuitable variant, or missing details that create problems during policy use.
Step 5: Calculate the Premium Using an Online Calculator
Use the online premium calculator before making the final choice. Enter the correct details, including age, city, number of insured members, and selected cover amount. The result helps in understanding the expected premium and whether the policy fits the annual budget. This step is useful because it allows cost and coverage to be reviewed together, instead of choosing a plan only because the premium looks lower.
Step 6: Fill in Personal and Medical Details
When filling in the proposal form, provide accurate details for each insured member. This includes name, date of birth, contact details, medical history, ongoing treatment, and previous insurance information if required.
Every answer should be complete and truthful. Incorrect or missing details can create difficulty later. Before you submit the form, read every section again and correct any mistakes.
Step 7: Make Payment Through the Secure Payment Gateway
After checking the form, go to the payment page and complete the transaction through the secure payment gateway. Review the premium, policy term, and entered details once more before confirming payment.
After the transaction is completed, save the receipt, reference number, or confirmation message carefully. Keeping this record is useful if you need to track the purchase or follow up on policy issuance later.
Step 8: Download and Keep Your Policy Document Safely
Once the policy is issued, download the policy document, schedule, and any related papers without delay. Read them carefully to confirm member names, policy period, sum insured, and major terms. Save a digital copy in a secure folder and keep a printed copy if needed. Proper record keeping makes future renewals, document checks, and policy servicing easier and more organised when information is required quickly.
Conclusion
Buying health cover online becomes easier when you handle each step with attention. From checking your family’s needs to reading the final document, every stage helps you make an informed choice. A careful approach can reduce mistakes, improve your understanding of policy terms, and help you choose coverage that matches your household’s medical needs, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare planning in a reliable way for your family over the long term.
