Next Issue Media bringing all-you-can-read subscriptions to iOS
Earlier this year, Next Issue Media introduced a unique approach that could revolutionize the way digital magazines are sold.
In what has been referenced as a Netflix-for-magazines-like scheme, tablet owners can essentially pay $10-$14 a month for all the magazines that they want to read -- not just one title but any of the "premiere" titles from the likes of Condé Nast, Time Inc. and Hearst.
Initially, the platform has only been available for Android tablets running Honeycomb. CEO Morgan Guenther noted in an interview last week that the service already has approximately 40,000 accounts signed up at highest level with 12,000 active users.
But now, Next Issue is taking things to the next level with the introduction of its app on the iPad, with 39 titles ready immediately and more promised to be added to the library later this year. Some examples already in the catalog include Bon Appétit, Golf Digest, GQ, Vogue and Wired.
For reference, here's how the pricing scale breaks down:
- Unlimited Basic: Includes titles published monthly and bi-weekly, including back issues, for $9.99 per month
- Unlimited Premium: Includes all titles in the catalog, including weeklies, and back issues, such as Entertainment Weekly, People, Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, TIME for $14.99 per month
- Individual magazine subscriptions range from $1.99 to $9.99 per month
- Individual magazine issues are available from $2.49 to $5.99 per issue
When asked about potential competitors in the digital magazine space such as Zinio or even Apple's Newsstand, Guenther reiterated that Next Issue is really alone in the market in terms of what it offers.
"We're happy to have consumers discover digital magazines through one-click on iTunes," Guenther commented. "It helps to drive more adoption. It's just a different path. I don't see any channel conflict within the Apple environment or the Google Play environment."
Guenther compared Next Issue and Zinio to on-demand services versus traditional cable packages.With Zinio, there are thousands of titles available from all over the world, but Next Issue is only focusing on some of the most popular weekly and monthly glossies.
Nevertheless, Guenther did reveal that Next Issue is plotting to expand its library with more international titles, starting with adding more English-language magazines first.
Other goals for this year and next include add more social and personalization elements as well as added support for Windows 8.
Next Issue for iPad is available now in the United States with support for all iPad models. 30-day free trials are also available for all subscription plans.