Press Release: Digital Books and the New Subscription Economy, a Major New BISG Research Study, Releases Today

New York, NY (July 22, 2014) Today, BISG released a new study on subscription models of selling digital content, now available for immediate purchase here.

Digital Books and the New Subscription Economy points to almost unilateral agreement that digital subscription is already having an impact on publishing models and reports a wide range of responses. It analyzes the differing expectations and perspectives from trade, educational, and scholarly publishers, as well as those of other industry stakeholders including subscription service providers. It assesses the long-term impact of subscription models and how publishers and service providers anticipate they'll adapt.

Len Vlahos, Executive Director of BISG, commented "Subscription models have the potential to disrupt the industry, and we're very pleased to publish this study to provide an analysis of its implications, both positive and not, for everyone seeking greater understanding of this model and how to plan for it."

Andrew Savikas, CEO of lead sponsor Safari, said "Safari is a success story for how publishers can use new business models to grow truly new markets. We are proud to have worked with BISG on this report to help others in the industry better understand both the challenges and opportunities in the range of subscription-style models out there, including Safari."

As new subscription models emerge and dominate publishing news, BISG's timely report offers extensive data and analysis to help answer the myriad questions about its potential impact on the various publishing models. The research is based on data collected from an extensive survey from a sample of almost 4,000 industry professionals, including publishers, libraries, retailers, aggregators, and other service providers. In addition, the study includes a broad review of current subscription models in publishing and other digital media industries, based on over 50 one-on-one interviews.

Digital Books and the New Subscription Economy delves into why specific models work for different sectors and how these models depend on specific audience needs and expectations. Key factors include:

• Consumer preferences for access vs. ownership
• Price sensitivity
• A preference for breadth vs. depth of selection

The report reviews different market needs and how subscription models can meet them. For example, a professional reader looking for targeted information on a specific subject may want a subscription service that delivers a highly curated selection where price is less important. Casual readers who want a range of options in different subject areas will want a broader selection where lower prices eliminate purchase risk and encourage sampling. Consumers already accustomed to subscription for music, movies, or news and information will expect similar benefits from book subscription services.