Fictionwise Cancels F&SF Subscriptions

[RockdaMan]

The publisher:

Amazon is offering us some marketing and promotional opportunities we couldn't get anywhere else. They're giving us some chances we haven't had in a long time (if ever). And on balance, in light of those opportunities, it just didn't make sense for F&SF to be available electronically through other vendors.

I wouldn't have done it if (1) I didn't think this move was best for F&SF and (2) I was making F&SF utterly unavailable to you. But the magazine remains available in two wide-reaching formats---print and Kindle.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

pdurrant's and jasonkchapman's replies are even better.

To be fair, I hadn't posted my reply when he'd posted his comment....


Off to see what jasonkchapman said.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

The publisher:

It's only necessary to look at the paid circulation figures (down by over 7,000 in the past nine years, to just over 15,000 now) to see that something had to be done to save the magazine. It's already gone to bi-monthly publishing to save costs.

I'm not wonderfully pleased by the decision to go to an Amazon exclusive, and even less pleased that the transition has been so awkward (cutting of Fictionwise before Amazon distribution was ready).

Hopefully Amazon's incentives will be enough to help get circulation an upward path again. A few thousand Kindle subscriptions would make a big difference to the income of the magazine.

Let's hope it's the right decision.

[Elfwreck]

Amazon is offering us some marketing and promotional opportunities we couldn't get anywhere else. They're giving us some chances we haven't had in a long time (if ever). And on balance, in light of those opportunities, it just didn't make sense for F&SF to be available electronically through other vendors.

Unless Amazon *demanded* the removal of other vendors as part of its terms, there's no reason to restrict access; it makes no sense to say "Barnes & Noble is going to do some great advertising for us, so obviously it doesn't make sense to allow sales from your local comic shop as well."

I wish them well. I haven't heard good things about Amazon's subscriptions, though, and at Amazon, they're competing with a lot of other content.

I really want to know what Amazon offered them that made it worth dropping their entire current digital subscription base.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

I really want to know what Amazon offered them that made it worth dropping their entire current digital subscription base.

I'm sure that Amazon demanded exclusive electronic distribution. I doubt that we'll ever know the exact terms, as I'm sure it's tied up in a confidentiality agreement.

Perhaps a guaranteed minimum income? (e.g. if you don't get X subscribers within Y months, we'll pay you $Z per month until that target is met.)

[Worldwalker]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It's only necessary to look at the paid circulation figures (down by over 7,000 in the past nine years, to just over 15,000 now) to see that something had to be done to save the magazine. It's already gone to bi-monthly publishing to save costs.

That should be enough to make it obvious that "If you don't have a Kindle, then read the paper version because we're going to cut you off from the electronic version you were reading" is a bad idea. If people wanted to read the paper version, their circulation wouldn't have dropped by 7,000, now, would it?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

That should be enough to make it obvious that "If you don't have a Kindle, then read the paper version because we're going to cut you off from the electronic version you were reading" is a bad idea. If people wanted to read the paper version, their circulation wouldn't have dropped by 7,000, now, would it?

Whether it's a bad idea or not rather depends on the electronic circulation figures, which we don't have.

If there were (say) 250 subscriptions at fictionwise, and Amazon guaranteed 2500 subscriptions with exclusivity, it would seem a no-brainer to go with Amazon.

The publishers think it's the best move to keep the magazine going. I hope they're right.

[RockdaMan]

I wonder if he talked to Sony and to BN.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Whether it's a bad idea or not rather depends on the electronic circulation figures, which we don't have.

If there were (say) 250 subscriptions at fictionwise, and Amazon guaranteed 2500 subscriptions with exclusivity, it would seem a no-brainer to go with Amazon.

The publishers think it's the best move to keep the magazine going. I hope they're right.

I actually hope he's wrong so he leaves Amazon and gives us back the formats we want.

[RockdaMan]

I suspect death (of the mag) will be the only way he leaves Amazon.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

I suspect death (of the mag) will be the only way he leaves Amazon.

TBH, it would not effect me at all if they stay with Amazon till they go under as now I am not buying anything from them since they could give a rat's ass about customers.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

TBH, it would not effect me at all if they stay with Amazon

As Spock said, the needs of the many over the needs of the few.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I actually hope he's wrong so he leaves Amazon and gives us back the formats we want.

I fear that if he's wrong the magazine will fold in another year or two.

[EDIT: When will I learn to read to the end of the thread before commenting?]

[RockdaMan]

So JS, if it flourishes, will you admit that Amazon did some good here and that you were wrong?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

So JS, if it flourishes, will you admit that Amazon did some good here and that you were wrong?

If it flourishes, I will still say they didn't care enough abut some of their existing customers to find a solution that works for all.