Ad spots selling for $200,000

Several details regarding Wired's upcoming iPad app have surfaced, including ad pricing and capabilities, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Several companies are allegedly paying Condé Nast upwards of $200,000 for a single ad placement in the first eight issues of the iPad magazine, according to unnamed sources.

The publisher is said to be offering additional functionality for clients willing to buy at least eight pages in a single issue. Companies can then add video or other upgraded features to their advertising.

Sports Illustrated is said to be demonstrating concepts for interactive content, such as a Ford Mustang ad that allows users to change the car color and even drive the vehicle in a racing game. Other potential features include social-networking integration or navigation utilities.

Ad spots are allegedly selling out quickly for the first iPad issues, even though many of the magazine apps are still under development. Pre-order sales numbers for the iPad are also unclear, although analyst estimates suggest the company may have reached nearly 200,000 sometime last week.

Six advertisers, including Coca-Cola and FedEx, have signed up for space on the Wall Street Journal's iPad app. A four-month ad package carries a $400,000 price tag, while users will have to pay $18 each month for the subscription.

As companies test the waters, advertisers face a wide range of pricing schemes and potential capabilities. Not all buyers are excited about the terms, however, as certain publishers are forcing clients to purchase space in the print versions alongside the iPad editions.

By Electronista Staff