Time for Sports Illustrated to Go All Digital
Time Inc. and Sports Illustrated have announced the introduction of new “All Access” digital subscription plans that will deliver the print magazine to consumers at all touch points (or on all platforms) with Android tablets and smartphones as well as on the web at www.si.com/magazine.
This is the first of Time Inc.’s emerging digital subscription programs, designed to offer consumers a flexible approach to accessing its branded titles.
Time Inc. has also planned to make TIME, Fortune, People and Sports Illustrated available for subscription on the HP TouchPad when it is introduced later this year.
[ Also Read: Is the TIME Right to Honor Zuckerberg of Facebook? ]The new apps from the editors of Sports Illustrated (SI) are an extension of the title’s aggressive development initiative.
In the last eight months SI has introduced a new magazine iPad app, SI Snapshot (developed in HTML5) for Google Chrome and a new SI Facebook Fantasy Football game.
[ Also Read: Get Ready to Play Golf Game on Facebook ]There are also several new Swimsuit digital products, including 3D, coming out on Feb. 15. Of late, a concept for Sports Illustrated on the Android Honeycomb was showcased by Google.
“We view every new technology as an opportunity to provide our long-time subscribers with digital access to the magazine and at the same time attract new readers,” said Terry McDonell, Time Inc. sports group editor.
“Our editors and designers have stepped up to customize the best-possible version of SI for various platforms and technologies.”
[ Also Read: When iPad Tells You the CNN Story ]Now, Sports Illustrated “All Access” includes new magazine apps for the Samsung Galaxy and Android smartphones (OS 2.1 and higher); web access to the issue (after log in) can be found at www.si.com/magazine.
The specific plans are:
Print/Digital (Samsung Galaxy/Android Smartphone/Web): $48 annually or $4.99/month
Digital Only: $3.99/month
Current print subscribers have free access to the digital package throughout the remainder of their term.
[ Also Read: Reader’s Digest Gets a New Reader: iPad ]“The new subscription options give consumers flexibility and convenience they desire and ensure that our multiple revenue streams continue to grow,” said Mark Ford, Time Inc. EVP and president of its Sports Group.
Sports Illustrated currently boasts nearly 3.15 million print subscribers.
Time Inc., a Time Warner company, is a branded content company. With 22 magazines and 26 web sites in the U.S., it is claimed to be the country’s largest magazine media company.
