May point to performance of iPad mag industry

The New Yorker currently has over 100,000 iPad readers, of which roughly 20,000 have paid for annual subscriptions, the New York Times has learned. The former only added subscription options in May, having previously limited people to buying individual issues for $5 each. While people can still buy single issues, the magazine is selling monthly subscriptions for $6 or yearly ones for $60.

Breaking performance down even further, the New Yorker says that over 75,000 print subscribers are taking advantage of free access to iPad content. The number of people buying individual iPad issues currently sits in the "several thousands."

The New Yorker's data is significant for two reasons. Firstly it gives a rare glimpse into the iPad publishing industry, which only occasionally shares concrete figures. Part of the reason for this is that subscriptions are relatively new to the App Store, having originally debuted in February. In June Apple backed down on strict pricing guidelines, which mandated that in-app subscription purchases cost the "same price or less" next to iOS subscriptions paid for by other means. The main restriction at present is that apps not link to outside payment methods.

By Electronista Staff