Engage

The media world has been buzzing about this for months. Now, finally, the plans for a large digital newsstand (from a consortium of magazine and newspaper publishers) are expected to be announced early next week. According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times: News Corp., Conde Nast, Meredith, Hearst, and Time Inc. are all investing in the “iTunes for print” company. The new venture doesn’t have a name yet, but, in theory, will sell content from magazines and newspapers from a single website while leaving the hardware (or reading devices) to others. The alliance would develop standards for magazine viewing on mobile phones, e-book readers, and other platforms. Time Inc. vet John Squires will be the managing director while the company looks for a CEO. Read the New York Times story here or The Guardian’s story here.

Industry buzz Conde Nast, digital, Hearst, magazine, Meredith, News Corp., online, Time Inc.

Last week Time Inc. released this video of how Sports Illustrated magazine could come to life in an e-reader.

In response, the UK newspaper The Sun released this viral video, showing how it’s been the best handheld device for years.

Industry buzz digital, e-readers, newspapers, The Sun, Time Inc.

We can never resist a magazine or two when standing in the checkout line at Target. Now the retail chain is hoping to spawn similar magazine purchases online through a new digital magazine newsstand it has created in partnership with digital content provider Zinio. Target.com shoppers can order digital subscriptions, single copies, and archived copies of hundreds of magazines on the new co-branded, private-label newsstand site target.zinio.com. The digital copies can be read on the computer, or on e-readers or mobile phones.

But Target isn’t the only one venturing into digital newsstand technology. Time Inc. is said to be in talks with other publishers, such as Conde Nast and Hearst, on the creation of a digital newsstand that could become the “Hulu for glossies,” where magazine-like publications are delivered via e-readers. Time Inc.’s John Squires made the announcement at the Oct. 14 Magazine Innovation Summit. More details about the new venture, including a possible third-party that would act as the storefront, should be announced next month, with a launch date of 2010.

Industry buzz digital, e-readers, newsstand, Target, Time Inc.

InStyle’s December issue will take advertising to the next level by making its Holiday Special Section three-dimensional. “Gifting in 3-D” will create a three-dimensional gift box on readers’ computer screens when they hold the pages up to their webcam. The gift boxes then open up to branded video content from each advertiser in the section—and an option to click and buy. This Time Inc. initiative follows Bonnier’s 3-D Popular Science cover in June, but InStyle is taking the technology a little further by actually bringing engaged readers to the point of purchase. Read the FOLIO story here.

Industry buzz 3-D, advertising, holidays, Time Inc.

American Express, Time Inc. and CNN are launching a new take on the travel guide with “Weekend Getaways,” an initiative that delivers travel content through print, online, mobile and broadcast. It’s a smart cross-brand, multiple-format solution jumping off the success of last year’s Infiniti-sponsored “City Guides” initiative. The three-part “Weekend Getaways” booklet will run in the April, July and October issues of Travel + Leisure and a few other American Express Publishing and Time Inc. titles. Solely sponsored by Infiniti, the in-magazine booklets will cover nine Weekend Getaways in the Northeast, Southwest, and the West. Then, CNN and its airport network will air the travel segments, beginning this month and running through September. In addition to the print and television outlets, dedicated websites, like this one at Travel + Leisure and this one at CNN feature tip itineraries, travel tips and more.

New launches American Express, CNN, content, guides, magazine, online, television, Time Inc., travel, TV, website