Next Issue Media, the digital publishing consortium of Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corporation, and Time, Inc., commissioned research into publishers might leverage the opportunities
presented by digital platforms.The resulting White Paper is a must read for distribution newsagents and those representing them.
Next Issue Media is starting with magazines and plans to have their digital newsstand operating for the coming US Summer – as reported by Paid Content a couple of days ago. Newspapers will make it to this platform.
Music publishers tried hard to maintain control of their distribution channels six years ago with modest success. It will be interesting to see what happens with print.
In the meantime, newsagents have more information now available in the public forum with which to consider their own plans and the context of print media products within those plans. No, I am not saying print is dead. What I am saying to distribution newsagents is – be fully aware of what is happening out there and make decisions which are right for you and your business.
Those representing newsagents in negotiations / discussions with publishers need to be across the Next Issue Media moves and similar moves by others. If any of what I have written here is news to them then I would be concerned.
PS. be sure to watch the videos on the next Media website.