[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #254: Paying for content

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OPLIN 4Cast

OPLIN 4Cast #254: Paying for content
November 2nd, 2011

<http://www.oplin.org/4cast/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/apple-newsstand-sm2.png>Newspaper 
and magazine publishers share a common problem with libraries: how do 
you convince people (or government officials and administrators in the 
case of libraries) that they should expect to pay for good information? 
There is a common perception that the "free" information you get from a 
Google search - never mind the ads - is good enough, and that there is 
no need to spend money on any other source of information. But now we 
may have an unintentional ally in Apple. The Newsstand feature in iOS 5, 
the latest operating software for iPhones and iPads, automatically 
collects apps that access subscription-based content, like magazines and 
newspapers, and there is some evidence that this easy way to buy news is 
leading to increased willingness to pay for information.

    * Study: tablet users love to read the news, still reluctant to pay
      for it
      <http://siliconfilter.com/study-tablet-users-love-to-read-the-news-still-reluctant-to-pay-for-it-infographic/>
      (SiliconFilter/Frederic Lardinois) "It's worth noting, though,
      that this data was gathered before the launch of iOS5. Some early
      data suggests
      <http://www.newsandtech.com/dateline/article_f7257824-fe6f-11e0-b2bf-001cc4c002e0.html>
      that the Newsstand feature Apple built into its new operating
      system could boost sales for news-related apps. It remains to be
      seen if this is a real trend or just driven by curiosity as users
      try out this new feature, though."
    * Condé Nast digital subs soar 268% after iPad gets Newsstand
      <http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/10/25/conde.nast.credits.ios.5.to.surge.in.reading/>
      (Electronista/staff) "Other publishers have seen their own spikes
      <http://macnn.com/rd/230735==http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/10/20/downloads.spiking.sales.doubling/>
      after the iOS 5 update. While some owners have complained that
      Newsstand isn't removable from the home screens and only checks
      once a day, the exposure is much stronger than on Android or other
      platforms where magazines are either folded into the main
      bookstore or are still available only as regular apps."
    * Apple's Newsstand is already booming for some magazine publishers
      <http://paidcontent.org/article/419-apples-newsstand-is-already-booming-for-magazine-publishers/>
      (paidContent/Robert Andrews) "Consumer magazine publisher Future
      says free container apps for its titles were downloaded two
      million times in three days and reports 'consumer spending well in
      excess of normal monthly revenues'. 'Future has sold more digital
      editions in the past four days through Apple's Newsstand than in a
      normal month,' says UK CEO Mark Wood."
    * Apple's Newsstand a huge success for digital publishers
      <http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/10/apples-newsstand-success/>
      (Wired/Christina Bonnington) "Numerous publishers are reporting
      subscription surges for their newspaper and magazine apps.
      PixelMags reported a 1,150 percent growth increase in the first
      week after Newsstand and iOS 5 debuted on Oct. 12. It's now sold
      over four million digital magazines."

*/Revenue fact:/*

Apple still collects 30% of subscription revenue from publishers that 
offer digital content through Apple, which has lead a collective of 
major French newspapers to refuse to sell 
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/21/tech-us-france-press-idUKTRE78K2VL20110921> 
through Newsstand.
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