Q3 Global Digital Subscription Snapshot launched
The latest Global Digital Subscription Snapshot, published by FIPP in partnership with CeleraOne, has now been published. Recording data across 113 publishing titles and 39 streaming services, the study shows significant growth across the digital subscriptions sector, with the New York Times posting record third quarter results.
“While this latest quarterly edition of the FIPP CeleraOne Global Digital Subscription Snapshot doesn’t quite show it yet, we are seeing the point of light for magazine media growing larger and larger,” writes FIPP President & CEO James Hewes in his introduction to the report.
“Across the world, magazine media businesses are trialling and launching paid content solutions, and we await the first results with anticipation… When it comes to magazines, I would quote Carl Sagan: ‘Maybe it’s a little early. Maybe the time is not quite yet. But those other worlds – promising untold opportunities – beckon. Silently, they orbit the sun, waiting.’”
Highlights from the latest quarterly report include:
- The New York Times added 455k digital subscribers, with its best ever 3rd quarter performance.
- Axel Springer has reached 1 million digital subscribers.
- Twitter has launched a new subscription service called Twitter Blue in a limited number of countries.
- Spotify reported a 22% increase in subscription revenue and 75% surge in ad revenue…
- … But YouTube Music was the fastest growing music service in 2020
There are also some interesting innovations going on in the space right now. For example, Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail showcased its AI-driven paywall earlier this year at the Online News Association Annual Conference. Affectionately known as Sophi, the paywall has helped the publisher double its digital subscriber base to 170,000 and improved conversion rates by 50%.
The full report is exclusive to members, available to download here.
