German media magnate Hubert Burda is credited with founding the Burda Group, one of the biggest publishing houses in Europe. Over a number of decades, he has been at the forefront of observing and responding to changes in the media industry. Among his noteworthy observations is the way in which the economics of content distribution have been radically transformed by digitalization.

Burda observed that people found it easier and less expensive to access a variety of media, including news articles and music tracks, online as the internet grew in popularity. Prior to the internet, these resources could only be accessed through physical copies, such as books, periodicals, or CDs, which were frequently expensive to produce and distribute.

Consider this change by comparing a library with set hours to a digital library that is open around-the-clock. While the digital library provides unlimited access without time limits or expensive borrowing fees, the traditional library can only hold a certain number of books and has restrictions on when you can visit.

Customers are no longer required to pay for each piece of information they look for thanks to the trend toward free online content. But this also presents problems for companies attempting to make money off of their goods in a crowded and cutthroat market with so many free or inexpensive alternatives.

In conclusion, Burda's observation emphasizes how digitization has reduced the cost and democratized access to content. Customers gain from this shift, but media companies are also compelled to adjust and come up with new strategies for surviving in the digital environment.