The New Yorker is finally on its way to the iPad via subscription – and it’s not alone. Power publisher Condè Nast announced it will also introduce Wired, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest, Allure, Self, and GQ subscriptions to the App Store by the end of the month.
In a blog post, The New Yorker explained that while its original iPad app was well-received, its customers wanted more. “They wanted to subscribe to the magazine on the iPad or to get access to their subscription if they had one already; until now, the only way to read the magazine on the iPad was to buy single issues, at single-issue prices. As of this morning, that is changing.”
Apple launched its iTunes-App Store subscription model in February alongside the debut of The Daily, and getting there was no small feat. Rumor had it that Apple could not reach an agreement with publishers over consumer data, and the 30-percent cut the company would keep from all in-app subscriptions was also being contested. The subscription model’s introduction didn’t go smoothly either, attracting an investigation courtesy of U.S. antitrust regulators on account of Apple’s charges and rule prohibiting app’s from promoting product outside of Apple’s own store. The Cupertino company has long been labeled anticompetitive, and its in-app subscription terms for publishers haven’t helped it deny these claims.
Despite any bad press, big name publishers are still jumping on board. The New Yorker will now be available for current print subscribers to receive the publication via iPad for free, and everyone else can now pay $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year. Prior to, each issue cost $4.99. Condè Nast is a major victory for Apple, and comes just after Hearst agreed to sell magazines subscriptions through iTunes last week. And according to All Things Digital, Apple might be willing to employ some flexibility when it comes to its subscription terms. Hearst suggested the company “[modified] at least some of its conditions” in order to come to an agreement over its content. It looks some concessions on Apple’s part were applied to the Condè Nast deal too, such as admitting the publisher to request additional consumer data and flexible pricing options.
While consumers are likely thrilled by the increase of available magazine comment and ease that comes with the subscription rates, we’re willing to bet other publishers who have agree to the iTunes subscription terms may start to seek this kind of accommodating treatment from Apple as well.
Here’s the press release announcing the new content in it’s entirety [via Engadget].
CONDÉ NAST TO OFFER MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR iPAD
The New Yorker Available Via Subscription on the App Store Starting Today,
Seven Others by End of May
New York, N.Y.-May 9, 2011- Condé Nast has begun offering subscriptions for iPad editions of its magazines today, it was announced by Robert A. Sauerberg, Jr., President of Condé Nast. Subscriptions are now available for The New Yorker, which will be followed by Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest, Allure, Wired, Self and GQ in the coming weeks.
Subscriptions for iPad editions of Condé Nast magazines will be available through In-App Purchase on the App Store. Current print subscribers will be able to access iPad editions immediately through the term of their subscriptions, and new print subscriptions sold on Condé Nast websites ―including newyorker.com― will include access to iPad editions.
“We’ve been working closely with Apple for some time to be the first to deliver what consumers clearly want: easy access to premium packaged digital content via subscription,” said Mr. Sauerberg. “The iPad has created an incredible new way for readers to experience our award-winning magazines. Over time, we’ll see subscriptions leading to greater and greater scale, helping to drive overall industry growth.”
“We are thrilled to have Condé Nast’s world-renowned magazines available on the iPad,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s Vice President of Internet Services. “Condé Nast is connecting with readers in an innovative way, and we think everyone is going to love being able to subscribe to iPad editions of their favorite Condé Nast magazines with just one click.”
Condé Nast will offer monthly and yearly subscriptions and will continue to offer single issues, all via In-App Purchase on the App Store. Some additional pricing details:
· Subscriptions to The New Yorker’s weekly iPad editions are available through In-App Purchase on the App Store and include password access to the web-based edition for $5.99/month (4 issues) or $59.99/year. Print and digital bundled subscriptions available at newyorker.com include print, iPad and web-based editions for $6.99/month (4 issues) or $69.99/year.
· Subscription offerings available through In-App Purchase on the App Store for Wired, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest, Allure, Self and GQ will be $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year.
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, operates in 25 countries and is home to some of the world’s most celebrated media brands. In the United States, Condé Nast publishes 18 consumer magazines, four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 30 apps for mobile and tablet devices, all of which define excellence in their categories. Condé Nast has won more National Magazine Awards over the past ten years than all of its competitors combined.
