FT Sees Subscription Sales Beating Ad Revenues; Dodges Apple App Charge

Need to shut up a friend or colleague who insists subscriptions will never be a significant portion of your revenues? Well, here’s some good

Need to shut up a friend or colleague who insists subscriptions will never be a significant portion of your revenues? Well, here’s some good news out of the U.K. that may just do the trick.The Financial Times (FT) just announced on Monday that it expects its subscription and cover price sales to overtake its print advertising revenue this year.According to Reuters.Digital subscriptions currently make up only 30% of subscription sales at FT (I suspect it’s because financial types like to be seen with that pink paper in hand), but this is likely to change moving forward. Recently, FT was able to create an app for iPhone, iPad and Android platforms that bypasses Apple’s app store, thereby saving them the 30% gatekeeper charge from Apple — as well as preserving their access to their own subscriber’s data.This knowledge helps FT sell better-targeted advertising for much higher rates despite a volatile advertising markets, and allows them to maintain a direct relationship with readers. In fact, their Web app was downloaded for the millionth time this month.However, Apple tends not to like people who think outside the box (unless it’s them of course). So it remains to be seen if the newer iPhone versions don’t try to block such creative, money-saving solutions. After all, their secret police already raided a journalist’s home to prevent him from leaking information about the iPhone 4.

Up Next

Register Now For Email Subscription News Updates!

Search this site

You May Be Interested in:

Log In

Join Subscription Insider!

Want access to premium member-only content, plus conference discounts and other benefits? We deliver the information you need for improved decision-making, skills, and profitability.

Access these premium-exclusive features

Monthly

$ 57
  •  

Annually

$ 397
  •  
POPULAR

Team

$ 997
  •  

Interested in a team license? For up to 5 team members, order here.
Need more seats? Please contact us here.