After Texture Acquisition, Apple Expected to Launch Subscription News Service Within Next Year
According to Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News, Apple is planning to offer a subscription-based news service within the next year. As it has not announced the plans publicly, Apple has declined to comment.
It’s said that the service will be based on Texture, the subscription-based digital magazine app, which pending the approval of Apple’s agreement to acquire the company, will be integrated into the Apple News app on iPad and iPhone.
Texture currently provides unlimited access to over 200 digital magazines, all for $9.99 a month. Amongst the titles available are Vogue, Rolling Stone, People, National Geographic, GQ, Wired, Maxim, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Health, Businessweek, Bloomberg, ESPN The Magazine, and Entertainment Weekly.
Apple’s services chief Eddy Cue, in relation to Apple acquiring Texture, said “We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and engaging stories for users.”
The service would be akin to Apple Music but for news and magazine. Alongside the App Store and iCloud, the revenue would be a further boost to Apple’s growing services division – with a cut going to publishers, of course.
The premium tier is likely to complement the existing ad-supported content already available on the Apple News app, currently available in the US, UK, and Australia on iOS 9 and later.
Newstand was Apple’s previous offering, allowing access to digital magazines & newspapers, but with individual subscriptions (per-title basis).
