PaidContent is reporting that News Corp, Conde Nast, Meredith, Hearst and Time Inc. will announce next week the formation of a new company to fund the development of a digital newsstand. While mooted for some time, plans appear to be coming together.
Australian newsagents need to add this to the mix when considering the new newspaper distribution and retail contracts from News Limited.
Until now, publishers have left others to handle digital delivery – contrary of the models used for paper based products. This new consortiums publishers seeking to get control back of the farm. The challenge is the lead time. They need to keep current partners happy while they develop new channels and until they assess the impact of these new channels on the old.