Introduction
Over the past six years, there has been continuing interest in the adoption of digital
replica editions in the magazine and newspaper markets. This has driven a sizable
increase in online users of periodicals’ content as well as rate bases.
Dramatic changes in online advertising, broadband penetration, and other factors
make this an excellent time to assess the state of the digital editions market and to
predict its future trajectory.
In compiling this study, the authors have interviewed over 100 industry stakeholders,
gathered data from our data sponsors — Audit Bureau of Circulations and BPA
Worldwide — and from our vendor sponsors — Advanced Publishing, Olive Software,
Nstein, Nxtbook, Texterity, YUDU, and Zinio — read many online publications, and
visited numerous Web sites to try to produce the most comprehensive industry report
published in the last five years.
One of the goals of the study has been to compile a set of cases that depict the best
practices employed in the industry today, to serve as models for other publishers that
are considering the development of digital replica editions or other digital forms of
their content. We have also taken an objective look at the state of the technology
supporting digital magazine and newspaper publishing, as well as the content
management technology necessary to support next-generation digital initiatives.
Finally, we have spoken with publishers about their strategies for developing digital
replica editions and their other Web publishing and cross-media opportunities.
After our research, here is what we cover in this report:
Compiling the Numbers
� What has been the growth in the number of publications (by category) offering
digital editions?
� What is the percentage of digital subscribers vs. traditional subscribers?
Identifying the Leaders
� What are the current industry best practices regarding production, distribution,
and marketing of digital editions?
� What are key newspaper and periodical publishers saying about the future of
this technology?
Forecasting the Future
� What are the opportunities and threats to digital editions posed by the trend
towards atomization and aggregation of content?
©2008 Gilbane Group, Inc. iii http://gilbane.com