Analysts suggest such a device would help the news publisher find an answer to reverse shrinking subscriber bases, as well as revenue losses from publications.
Hearst Corp.’s plans to launch a wireless electronic reader for viewing the publisher’s newspapers and magazines reflects the kind of experimentation deemed pivotal to finding a business model that can compete in an era of the content-free Internet.
Hearst, which has seen its own revenue plummet as advertisers shift an increasing amount of their spending to the Web, is planning to launch an e-reader with a large-format screen this year, Fortune magazine reported Friday. The device would be big enough for the layout and advertising requirements of newspapers and magazines.
Story from another source
Cosmo Publisher Plans an E-Reader of Its Own
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/dying-newspaper.html
Horse, barn, gate and tale thereof
One should probably applaud a legendary old media company for trying, but I think an e-reader dedicated to a small, disparate range of content is probably a non-starter, larger screen et al. notwithstanding. Will I also need an ereader for Time-Life Titles, and another for Newhouse offerings? I think the New Yorker’s move – to the Kindle – is probably the right one.
The ‘content’ business model has altered radically and, one would assume irrevocably. Innovative business models are probably closer to Hearst’s core competence than innovation in technology.