Hearst described as sympathetic

At least one company is willing to sell subscriptions through an iPad newsstand, Apple is allegedly telling publishers. The information comes by way of an anonymous source, who suggests that Apple is using the claim to lure more content providers in. Other sources add that Hearst -- parent of magazines like Esquire, and newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle -- has been more accommodating to Apple's plans than other major publishers.

The proposed newsstand is expected to be separate from the App Store, and similar to but not necessarily integrated with iBooks. It would allow people to automatically download paid subscription content, something not officially supported in present apps. Apple is also believed to be interested in making newsstand material more media-rich than is currently possible with iBooks.

Publishers are thought to be worried about surrendering control to Apple, for instance in the form of reduced subscriber data. While protecting privacy, such a policy could make it harder for publishers to market to customers, or sell spots to advertisers. Apple may also want to keep the 30 percent revenue cut it normally insists on, which could hurt the worth of the iPad for publishers and shoppers as compared to paper.

by MacNN Staff