Remember a few months ago, when the iPad was going to be the salvation of print publishing? Well, it hasn’t turned out that way, and the situation has just gone from bad to worse. Several European newspapers have been told by Apple that they may no longer offer their iPad editions free with a paid print subscription. Will US publishers get the same news next week?
The already prickly relationship between Apple and print publishers hasn’t gotten any better over the last few months, as the two clash over how to offer subscriptions through the iTunes App Store. A major cause of discord has been Apple’s demand of a 30% cut on all App Store sales. Some publishers have been offering the iPad version of their magazines free with a paid subscription to the print edition.
On Friday, a number of European newspapers were told by Apple that they may no longer give access to their iPad editions to print subscribers, which cuts Apple out of their 30%. Needless to say, the newspapers aren’t happy and are calling Apple “too dominant.” This has been a point of contention for months, as Apple still does not allow recurring subscriptions and the total price of individual iPad issues of magazines amounts to several times what a print subscription runs.
The next iOS upgrade has been expected to offer the capability for recurring subscriptions, but it hasn’t happened yet. This delay is rumored to be one reason why the News Corps./Apple collaboration The Daily has been stalled yet another time.
