Nook gets magazine vet for subscriptions

Barnes & Noble on Monday said it has hired Time Inc. veteran Jonathan Shar to create and head up subscription content for the Nook. Now the General Manager for the company's new Digital Newsstand and Emerging Content group, the former CNNMoney Senior VP will set up deals for magazines, newspapers and online news sites to provide regular downloads of this material for the e-reader. No early details were given as to plans for the actual service.

The move is a possibly essential jumpstart for the Nook. Barnes & Noble has always insisted it has had strong sales since launch but has trailed behind Amazon and Sony in offering subscription material for its devices, instead relying on its access to a large existing library.

All three booksellers are also under pressure to improve the value of their content as much as possible before next month's launch of the iPad. Apple's tablet isn't poised to have subscription reading on launch but will have support for color and video in its books from its sale date. The company is also known to be talking to publications like Time, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal for possible future deals.

By Electronista Staff