Apple is planning to launch a subscription model for accessing electronic versions of newspapers, according to reports.

The service, which would be suited to the company's iPad, could come as a welcome relief to publishers, who are battling against declining print sales worldwide.

However, the terms of the deal – as reported in the Mercury News – would see Apple take a large bite from any revenues generated for publishers through the model.

The report claims Apple would probably seek a 30% cut of all subscriptions sold via the App Store, and as much as 40% of the advertising revenue.

Newspapers such as The Times already offer digital versions of their titles on the iPad, but these are distributed via apps rather than iBooks.

It is understood that publishers are unhappy with Apple's proposed terms and would have preferred a fixed fee, but amid falling sales they are keen to explore new avenues and could be forced to accept Apple's conditions.

They could also benefit from acquiring data on their readers, which could help boost advertising revenue. Apple has agreed to provide an opt-in function, which would allow Apple to pass subscribers details to publishers, who could use the data to attract advertisers, the report claims.


Read more: Apple iPad "to offer newspaper subscriptions" | News | PC Pro http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/361273/appl ... z0ztugYNAH

Haven't bought a national newspaper in ages & I only buy the local one for the footy reports. Can't imagine I'm going to want to pay for them on an iPad either.

I wonder is the news 'set' or do they update it through the day... If they don't, considering you've got a net-enabled device, you may as well go to the BBC, Sky News, The Guardian, your own particular feed of choice etc for all the latest news

Do many people actually travel with an iPad anyway do we reckon? I wouldn't wanna carry a cheap, similar dimensioned netbook around with me every day (whether reading 'the paper' or not), never mind a costlier iPad

Can't you get those on the internet?

I can actually see getting a magazine subscription add on but not a paper. Anyway who would buy a Daily Sport subscription for their iPad?

<raises hand> I won't presume to speak for 'many people' but mine's always with me, and my wife always has hers - we were saying just this morning (whilst reading on them over breakfast) how quickly it's become the 'thing you carry everywhere'. That said, I have zero interest in newspapers, either electronically or in print; I get a Saturday paper but that's more habitual - for the last few weeks I've wondered why I've bothered, and I probably won't in future. Magazines I might be interested in, but I read very few now and the 'e' versions from Zinio etc... are overwhelmingly U.S.-orientated.

I'd be interested in something like "The Week' as an iPad subscription, but they seem to be even further behind the curve than newspapers - their website seems only to exist to sell you a print subscription <shrug>

And at the risk of banging a well-thumped drum, an iPad is a different animal to a netbook.

Pete

Why not?

I carry my laptop with me every day (16.4") and use my iPhone to read on the bus/train or in waiting rooms.

Is that mostly for your job though (the laptop)? Most people I know don't carry any sort of 'proper' computer unless they're pretty certain they're gonna use it

It is my private laptop. I also carry the company laptop, when I visit other sites.

As I have been looking for a job, I took my own laptop with me each day, so that I could apply for jobs and check e-mail etc. on my machine, not leave traces on the company machine - which I've secure wiped anyway, and delted my profile on the server afterwards - using the guest WLAN access on the network.

Why pay for electronic news when you can get it for free?

Agreed that is why I think books and magazines will do better on the iPad.