First there was Hulu, the professional content video site which showed that the web was a real alternative to TV. Then came the Hulu for music videos, Vevo which is set to launch later today. Now we’re getting the so-called “Hulu for magazines” which, in case you haven’t guessed it, aims to do for print magazines what Hulu did for TV. Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corporation and Time Inc. have announced a joint venture which aims to build the standards and technologies to allow users view their favorite magazines on a variety of mobile devices.
“For the consumer, this digital initiative will provide access to an extraordinary selection of engaging content products, all customized for easy download on the device of their choice, including smartphones, e-readers and laptops,” John Squires, the venture’s interim managing director said. “Once purchased, this content will be ‘unlocked’ for consumers to enjoy anywhere, anytime, on any platform.”
The venture, which doesn’t have a name yet, is virtually a no-brainer. Publishers have been bleeding money for the past years and the market is definitely not turning. The only perspective would be online distribution, but the alternatives available don’t really look that interesting from their point of view. Most of the websites setup aren’t making any… (read more)