Ft Fbt Discussion Threads

[aimster4400] 23/2/2018 07:27

I think it's automated.

[bonio10000] 23/2/2018 07:20

The fact that staff are now tweeting a daily newsletter, unrelated to fbt and which zero people read, suggests they are flat out busy.

[nickb] 23/2/2018 01:28

Mcsean

“Feedback from both existing and prospective customers is unanimous – Blackbird video technology should be a game changer within the industry”
IM

Go to YouTube and play a video backwards and forwards jog the video at variable speeds with audio forwards and backwards and advance the video frame by frame accurately.
Let me know how you get on.

Oh and do it with 18 video windows playing together and staying in sync.

[the stigologist] 23/2/2018 00:08

If it's all about the Codec

why after 20 years has nobody adopted it

is there a workaround ? (yes, plenty)

are there alternatives or substitutes ? (yes plenty, codecs are ten a penny)

are they not good salespeople (several different sales strategies have been tried and failed)

why is the IP valued at effectively zero in the accounts?

[mcsean2164] 22/2/2018 23:43

The only thing I can see is that if net neutrality is pulled we have a chance but that is not something FBT have ever discussed.

NickB,

Perhaps you could explain to me what is so great about a variable frame rate codec and why any editors would want to use it?



It seems to me you are the only one in the industry that recognizes the brilliance of blackbird.

Perhaps you could tell me of one customer that shares your vision and is using blackbird for infrastructure?

[nickb] 22/2/2018 21:56

We are all very much in the dark as to what is going on behind the scenes.

Could be champagne breakfast meetings with deal makers or it could be crisis meetings with a beggars cap.


I noticed that one of those sales jobs has been re listed 20 odd days ago

[nick2412] 22/2/2018 21:37

Yes, Nick, that's the issue and of course, aside from the tone of the jobs ads, the recruitment drive had everyone thinking that imminent contracts would bring in cash to pay for the new positions and get the share price up so they would only have to issue let's say 20m shares or so.

If the codec really is worthy to be called a game changer and inspired IM to join on that basis, then, it's probably in investors best interests for the Company to be sold rather than have a highly dilutive funding. They would of course need a couple of interested parties to get a decent sale price. There again, would a sale be easier than getting a significant licence or two that would propel the share price and avoid too much dilution? Who knows, the board might do but they are more than reluctant to share their thoughts on this and anything else.

[nickb] 22/2/2018 21:37

Could the BBC deal be back on?🤡 they can afford us now

Just read in the newspaper the licence fee is to increase from April to £150.50
Which buys you a lot of Netflix😀

[nickb] 22/2/2018 21:25

Yes good post Nick the company has totally ruined investor relations with its lack of transparency which may make it extremely difficult to raise money from investors going forward which is now reflected in the share price.

Discounted placing could come in between 1.75p - 3p ?

Other worries would be no big enterprise clients will sign up with long important contracts due to fears of the financial health of the company.

Not good.

So they are cutting it a bit fine with that game changing deal!

[paulcon1] 22/2/2018 21:04

Nick2412 ... Good post and agree totally ... GL

[nick2412] 22/2/2018 20:46

The issue I have with FBT is their communication and, frankly, their honesty.

It was disingenuous to put out job ads that suggested they were in the midst or on the cusp of exponential growth. They were fully aware investors would latch on to that and it's obviously a premature statement. Another job ad sought someone who had the ability to close multi-million £ deals.

In terms of transparency I also struggle with how they have 'bigged' up partnerships either through Proactive or even RNS announcements and then neglected to update or even reference.

Two examples of this relate to 'the U.S. Consumer giant' (Apple) that Aziz said he was more excited about than the British broadcaster POC. Whilst the BBC deal hasn't progressed there's been no clarification on the status of this supposed collaboration.

So, for example, if any investor were to write to FBT and quote the public domain comments by Aziz and ask whether this declared collaboration continues or has ceased they wouldn't get a reply.

Likewise, the major North American media POC - this was so material they put out a single RNS announcement to relay the information. Since then in both the interims and the trading update there wasn't a single reference to it. If you ask the Company 'in the absence of any other announcement, can I assume this trial is continuing?' then there is either no reply, or in my case, a rude brush off from Jonathan Lees asking me not to bother the Company again. It really is the Basil Fawlty approach to investor relations.

NickB obviously knows the industry and the technology intimately and if he agrees with the Company that the codec can be a game changer then it's worth noting. It would only take one decent deal to transform the share price but whilst they await that elusive deal then they should engage with investors as opposed to going out of their way to alienate them. All I will say is that if their sales and marketing is on a par with their approach to investor relations then it explains the absence of material sales announcements in the last six months.

It's a basic and reasonable investor position to request and obtain clarification on whether two highly material public domain statements made by the board remain valid. Hardly time consuming either as they are yes or no answers.

[nickb] 22/2/2018 20:11

Rubbish
FBT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE CODEC ALWAYS

THERE IS NO BUSINESS HERE JUST THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE CODEC WHICH HAS TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE INDUSTRY BEFORE ANY REAL BUSINESS CAN DEVELOP.

It’s why I keep asking you why the heck are you invested here.

[mcsean2164] 22/2/2018 19:42

Chris I know why I am invested and I am 100% fully aligned with SS vision (if I wasn’t I would have sold long ago)

I don't mean to be rude but that's completely barmy. SS's vision changed entirely when Aziz left. You were invested long before the recent pivot when FBT became a codec company.

You were completely behind Eva when you were suggesting apple might be interested.

Do you mean to say you are 100% behind anything SS decides? If SS had a vision up was down would you be behind that too?

What if any companies are using blackbird for infrastructure?

[nickb] 22/2/2018 17:42

Geh
That’s right and one day we will find out!

[geheimnis2] 22/2/2018 17:27

either SS is the biggest delusionista of all time - or he is genuinely sitting on a goldmine

could be either to be honest!

[nickb] 22/2/2018 17:20

Chris I know why I am invested and I am 100% fully aligned with SS vision (if I wasn’t I would have sold long ago)

Perhaps this type of investment is just not suitable for most people and it saddens me when I read this board and all the complaints from investors who are disappointed.

The reality at least as I see it is success will be determined by our technology being backed by a US Tech or media giant which is a very big ask but not impossible and they would determine the timescale not us.

As MK said the other day FBT is a lottery ticket. So don’t complain if it doesn’t pay out.

[christoff] 22/2/2018 16:22

Like the 100's of other times you thought that Nick over the past xx years!? Track record of 100% tosh so far.

[aimster4400] 22/2/2018 15:28

It very much could be

[nickb] 22/2/2018 15:25

Perhaps being in ultra silent mode is a good sign?

#justathought

[mcsean2164] 22/2/2018 15:21

Personally, I think the radio silence is down to incompetence. All their websites have gone offline on a number of occasions which would back up the incompetence theory...

[aimster4400] 22/2/2018 15:03

Is it down to SS or is it down to David Main? It's clear he's the 'Mastermind' behind radio silence

[mcsean2164] 22/2/2018 13:44

Shouldn't that be:

I think SS may have made a big mistake in backing IM?

It may have been that SS wanted someone more stable after the hyperbole and flamboyance of Aziz but I think startups need someone like Aziz to garner attention. It's astonishing but after 18 years we are still a startup....

[aimster4400] 22/2/2018 12:22

I'm telling you the RNSs post Aziz would have been his deals from all his travelling. 6 months on no new RNSs pretty much confirm that.