News Corp considers news organization devoted to iPad, other tablets
The Financial Times reported Friday that the company has not yet made a decision on the matter, but is expected to make a move this autumn. Officials with the company see such a venture as an opportunity to help News Corp. transition into the digital era for news.
If created, the news organization would have its own staff and be its own, entirely new entity.
"The ambitious undertaking under consideration would be another test of consumers' appetite to pay for news," the report said. "The momentum behind developing a tablet-centric product is driven by a belief that readers are willing to pay for portability. News Corp's early progress in selling subscriptions on the iPad has inspired the company to consider the new business."
In May, News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch revealed that his publication The Wall Street Journal had already gained more than 64,000 active iPad users. Then in June, he praised the device and the potential for it at the annual D: All Things Digital Conference.
In addition, this week the Journal began soliciting iPad users in the New York City metropolitan area, asking them to participate in group sessions in August to help improve their application available on the App Store.
"We are very interested in hearing about your experiences with the iPad, the Wall Street Journal app, and other news apps," Alan Murray, the paper's online executive editor said in an e-mail sent out on Wednesday and obtained by AppleInsider. Users selected for the study will receive $200 for their participation.
The Times said the efforts by News Corp. are viewed internally as "an honest attempt" at transforming journalism.
"If News Corp gives the green light to the tablet-centric news organisation plans, it will hire a new staff while borrowing fro the resources, but not the content, of its news assets, which include the New York Post and Down Jones," author Kenneth Li wrote. "The product would include coverage of news, entertainment, sports and politics."
43 Comments
Now the they just have to convince Apple to allow subscription services.
I don't trust Rupert to deliver objective information after what he's done with FOX.
The Times said the efforts by News Corp. are viewed internally as "an honest attempt" at transforming journalism.
Of course they would - but can they sell that to the public. Gonna be difficult I think.
Now the they just have to convince Apple to allow subscription services.
You should read Gruber's take on this.
Its quite clear Apple allows subscriptions (there are several apps doing subscription), but SI was doing something with linking the iTunes accounts, that Apple wasn't happy about.
Unfortunately, its more muddied waters. Apple has full bases, and 0 outs. They need to fix their App Store policies and will get the walk-off grandslam.
Unfortunately, they keep seeming to ignore the huge, and growing problem the App Store is.
(I know a lot will say that its successful, but I would argue the App Store is successful despite itself. Mainly because the rest of the Apple eco-system is so strong (i.e. Hardware and ease of use).
You should read Gruber's take on this.
Its quite clear Apple allows subscriptions (there are several apps doing subscription), but SI was doing something with linking the iTunes accounts, that Apple wasn't happy about.
Unfortunately, its more muddied waters. Apple has full bases, and 0 outs. They need to fix their App Store policies and will get the walk-off grandslam.
Unfortunately, they keep seeming to ignore the huge, and growing problem the App Store is.
(I know a lot will say that its successful, but I would argue the App Store is successful despite itself. Mainly because the rest of the Apple eco-system is so strong (i.e. Hardware and ease of use).
I think, the APP store was extremely good to begin with, but now it has become quite a mess. Particularly because of the huge amount of apps. Maybe subcategorizing would be helpful and in adition a more advanced search function.
As for portable newsmagazines, I certainly would be willing to pay for subscribtion. Only jurnalism which is financially payed by the actual readers is forced to do decent jurnalism.
I they suck, the readers stop subscribing. It' as simple as that. All freely available newspapers I know are really catastrophic.