Why Facebook’s Portal TV failed - explained by a marketing expert

[@Chalkie1983]

It also failed because no one wants to pay for something they already have in the palms of their hands.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

We do but some people still love the portal tv for the size of the screen.

[@russellmurray8306]

As he says £500 of equipment for £100. Why? Because Facebook, like Google, are actually data companies and would 100% use that camera for more than just video calling

[@marketing-brilliancee]

An interesting take.

[@John...44...]

Not even in the top 1000 things of the last 30 years. Its not new tech, its just a webcam for your tv. Very few people had a need for it, so very few people bought it

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Think of the USA where families have people all over the country. Could have been very handy.

[@timg1246]

"Facebook are evil", explains that perfectly.

[@ungratefulmango]

How is that a marketing reason? Facebook's history of privacy breaches, data farming, and manipulative advertising model weren't just marketing decisions.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

People don’t trust the brand

[@user-jt1jv8vl9r]

The portal tv was amazing during Covid as my partner’s family live abroad. It was great to chat to my mum who lives on her own. But gradually once we started seeing each other in the flesh, its use declined. My partner prefers the simplicity of a phone and that she can use the lack of battery to end a call if need be! 😂 I haven’t used my mine once in 2024.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

A friend of mine used it for this and still does to this day.

[@legitgibbo3225]

Some of the stuff this guy says you can tell he's old, it failed because why would we pay to use it on the TV when it's free in the palm of are hands

[@marketing-brilliancee]

The portal was an excellent piece of tech for people living abroad but wanting to sit on sofa chatting for hours with those back at home, but trust ended it

[@alanpartridge1385]

Conversely, you can tell you're young by your comment. A lot of people don't want to do video calling by mobile phone. A pretty common use case would be a family in Australia sitting together and calling their relatives in the UK on Xmas Day. Try doing that on a mobile; it's tedious and for £120 the Meta camera would have really appealed to a lot of people. Would I buy one? No chance, for exactly the same reason Rory Sutherland states.

[@legitgibbo3225]

@@marketing-brilliancee Facebook already has cameras and mics and gsp on most people in a house via their phones, it's not a trust issue why it failed

[@legitgibbo3225]

@@alanpartridge1385 that's not alot of people that's less the half a million people for that demographic you are saying

[@user-jt1jv8vl9r]

Holding or balancing a phone with 2 small kids is tedious. So much easier to have a fixed camera and 65” screen. We just got out of the habit of using it and now can’t find the remote.

[@robhughes645]

Rory has an opinion on everything, if he was always right he wouldn't have to pitch constantly...

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching!

[@lon3don]

I've never heard of it. It won't sell if nobody tells you.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

It was advertised when it was around on TV and the like. I know some people who still use them. It sounds great for families overseas and the like.

[@arielamejeiras8677]

Privacy not Marketing issues.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching!

[@timothychinye6008]

If it was $25 it would've succeeded.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

True but at a huge loss

[@Wooderz245]

If it was $25, it would seem too good to be true and nobody would trust it. You would assume that it was priced so low because they wanted everyone to own one so they could spy on people in their homes, like they did with it when it was $100.

[@user-jt1jv8vl9r]

We paid £100 in a BF sale years back. Not a big deal.

[@lisashapiro4714]

😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂 camera guy

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching

[@rostek91]

You call this the best idea of the last 30 years? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching 😀

[@ImpatientTurtle]

Chunky Gollum.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching!

[@timstapleman]

This man is an absolute genius. He is right about everything.

[@usefulcommunication4516]

You got your mum to type that for you didn't you.

[@marketing-brilliancee]

Thanks for watching. Very clever.

[@timothychinye6008]

It's a 100 quid... and no one really needs that...

[@marketing-brilliancee]

People with family spread out do.

[@alanpartridge1385]

Because no-one buys technology they don't actually need, do they?(!)