Over 200,000 People Subscribed to Apple News+ in First 48 Hours After Launch

[MacRumors]

Upwards of 200,000 iPhone, iPad, and Mac users signed up for an Apple News+ subscription following the service's March 25 launch, reports The New York Times.

The number comes from two unnamed sources who provided the figures to The New York Times and asked not to be named.

That's more than Texture, the service Apple News+ was based on, had during its peak. Apple purchased Texture in 2018 and is shutting it down at the end of May now that Apple News+ has launched.

Apple News+ provides access to more than 200 magazines as well as paywalled news from The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and a few other news publications.

Apple is going to be charging $9.99 per month for Apple News+, but those who subscribed following the event have a 30-day free trial. There are still more than three weeks before customers will be charged, and many may be planning to cancel ahead of when the trial expires.

It's still not clear how popular Apple News+ will be once that trial period runs out, but many magazines are hoping for the best. Pamela Wassserstein, CEO of New York Media, said that she felt Apple News+ would allow New York magazine, The Cut, and Vulture to reach a "new audience" in an environment that "feels right."

Apple takes 50 percent of the subscription price from Apple News+, and will be providing the rest to its publishing partners. Media companies will receive an amount based on the amount of time readers are devoting to their content.

This revenue split has been controversial and while many magazines have signed up because Texture worked in a similar way, Apple has been unable to woo major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Article Link: Over 200,000 People Subscribed to Apple News+ in First 48 Hours After Launch

 

[ipedro]

Clearly “a flop”.

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While it lacks the kind of polish I’d expect from Apple, the value is undeniable and it’s already become a part of my routine. Rather than browse for news on multiple sites, I pull up Apple News periodically and see what’s new from all my favourite sources in that one spot. The notifications on my Apple Watch are pretty great too.

I’ve also spent a lot time browsing through magazines like I would a paper mag, page by page, appreciating the graphic layout and even the ads (magazine advertising is truly an art form). I really think that Apple has a chance to revolutionize how we consume digital “print” publishing.

The app needs some work, however. Apple News+ feels bolted on, disconnected from the rest of the app. Certain important features are missing like saving a magazine article to read later like can be done in articles elsewhere in the app. There are also a bunch of bugs with downloaded magazines disappearing and not showing in “My Magazines” unless I actually start reading it.

 

[nojkepop]

Subscribed to a trial.

 

[BWhaler]

Apple leaked it to NY times, the most notable hold-out?

Savage. And brilliant.

 

[atikalz]

For a free trial not really impressing. And from this userbase lets see how many will use it after the 30-day-trail for real money. My guess: Not many. This outdated product and the boring apple TV+ will be a fail for apple. At least granny Cook had some amazing fun at the press conference in his newsstand.

 

[mmomega]

Guilty as charged

 

[ryanasimov]

Just how many of those 200,000 choose to pay after the free trial ends is what actually counts, though. Apple is counting on a certain percentage to forget to cancel, so the number of paying customers won't be known for a while yet.

 

[dmx]

It’s a flop. Most will cancel after the trial. Not impressed!

 

[tgwaste]

Thats cause its free.. Soon as my trial is up im out, its useless.

 

[rjp1]

50%? Lol, Apple’s greed will end up playing a huge role in their downfall.

 

[weup togo]

150,000 of those are journalists & bloggers using the free trial to write about it.

 

[5105973]

I'd like it for my Xr and iPad, but I also want to get it my Android. I hope Apple will be greedy enough to eventually make it available on Android.

I always liked regular Apple News. However I haven't signed up for the trial, yet. So, I'm not in the 200,000.

 

[DiceMoney]

I’m trying out the sample. They need to have a saved to read later feature, also not all mags are formatted for Iphone, would be great if they get more mags that are Iphone friendly. Also would be cool if you could highlight stuff, and be saved for future reference.

 

[tgwaste]

While it lacks the kind of polish I’d expect from Apple, the value is undeniable and it’s already become a part of my routine. Rather than browse for news on multiple sites, I pull up Apple News periodically and see what’s new from all my favourite sources in that one spot. The notifications on my Apple Watch are pretty great too.

Thats how it worked before the $10 sub. :/
It would had been valuable 20 years ago. Today all of that content is easily accessible for free.

 

[jaredlipsitz]

Thats cause its free.. Soon as my trial is up im out, its useless.

How is access to 300 magazines for $10pm ‘useless’? It might not be well suited to you, but I can’t fathom how you consider it useless?

 

[apolloa]

If you read the magazines and newspapers it offers then it has the potential to save you a fair few quid, dollars.

 

[jaredlipsitz]

Thats how it worked before the $9 sub. :/
It would had been valuable 20 years ago. Today all of that content is easily accessible for free.

You can still access the news for free...

 

[tgwaste]

I’m trying out the sample. They need to have a saved to read later feature, also not all mags are formatted for Iphone, would be great if they get more mags that are Iphone friendly. Also would be cool if you could highlight stuff, and be saved for future reference.

This is another problem for sure. A lot of it is just an eye soar to read.
[doublepost=1554242153][/doublepost]

You can still access the news for free...

Yes I know.. that was the whole point of my comment. :/

 

[Westside guy]

If people like it, good on them. I'm not interested at all... I wish I could just turn off those "News+" suggestions, but as far as I can tell it's not possible (If I'm wrong, though, I'd be happy for someone to explain how to do it).

I also notice that sources which are only available in "Apple News+" apparently cannot be unselected from the feeds used to populate Apple News in general.

 

[dannyyankou]

50%? Lol, Apple’s greed will end up playing a huge role in their downfall.

The New York Times has just over 4 million subscribers. If Apple News+ gets only 10 million subscribers, it's worth if for NYT to sign on.

 

[MrGuder]

Pay for news? Never!!

 

[MoreRumors?]

How many will actually continue and pay after the free trial is over? I am sure many will try out while free just to see if it offers a lot as Apple touts this new service.

 

[tgwaste]

How is access to 300 magazines for $10pm ‘useless’? It might not be well suited to you, but I can’t fathom how you consider it useless?

For the same reason I cut cable TV with 150 USELESS channels.

 

[Baymowe335]

For a free trial not really impressing. And from this userbase lets see how many will use it after the 30-day-trail for real money. My guess: Not many. This outdated product and the boring apple TV+ will be a fail for apple. At least granny Cook had some amazing fun at the press conference in his newsstand.

Hate on.

As if you know what success would be. And it’s 2 days.

This is the power of 1.4B devices.

 

[bpeeps]

For a free trial not really impressing. And from this userbase lets see how many will use it after the 30-day-trail for real money. My guess: Not many. This outdated product and the boring apple TV+ will be a fail for apple. At least granny Cook had some amazing fun at the press conference in his newsstand.

Did I step back in time or are people just repeating the same thing said during the Apple music release? Trials start service growth.