Digitization at HarperCollins
November 10, 2006
If you are curious what HarperCollins is doing in terms of digitizing its content, this presentation (PDF) from the Frankfurt Book Fair spells it out some. HarperCollins is being aggressive with this. They cited the costs of digitization as an element in their recent disappointing quarterly profit, and clearly are committed to the efforts.
In addition to lower sales, [HarperCollins CEO Jane] Friedman attributed the drop in profits to continued investment in digital and global projects. HC has now digitized 12,000 titles as part of its digital warehouse, and during the quarter it converted 125 books to its new Browse Inside feature, which enables consumers to search HC books from the company’s Web site. Friedman estimated HC will be adding 200 to 500 titles a week to the Browse feature. The company’s Digital Media Café also launched in the period. “I remain excited by the digital world,” Friedman said. HC’s China initiatives also ate into profits in the period.
Posted by Bill Trippe at November 10, 2006 2:33 PM
