BBC Radio prog discusses ebook pricing

Sparrow · 02-08-2010, 01:25 PM

BBC Radio 4's consumer affairs programme, 'You and Yours', had an item on ebook pricing today.
They pretty much covered points that have already been discussed here; but if anyone wants to hear it, it's on their podcast at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/

I'm not sure if it's geo restricted - the discussion runs from 08:25 - 14:30.

HarryT · 02-08-2010, 01:26 PM

Most radio progs are available world-wide; it's only the TV progs that have restrictions ('cos of the licence fee!).

Sparrow · 02-08-2010, 01:28 PM

Thanks Harry, I wasn't sure about radio.

It's good to know it is widely available because there's plenty of good stuff for folks to listen to (although I'm not sure I'd put 'You and Yours' in that category

).

Ben Thornton · 02-08-2010, 04:30 PM

It's in the program for Monday 8th Feb, not in the podcast.

It was interesting that one of those interviewed thought that ebooks would never go the way of itunes because it wasn't subject to piracy, was consumed differently, and was a longer-term purchase. The other interviewee seemed more sane, saying that in the end the price would be determined by the market, as of course it will.

They reported an interesting experiment which, I think, Faber&Faber had done, where they allowed people to pay anything from 0 .. £14.99 for an ebook. Apparently, the majority chose 0, but of those who paid, the average was about £5. I think that this is where the market should and will go for new books.

fugazied · 02-08-2010, 04:45 PM

The only thing about super low pricing is that I suspect books have a lower consumer saturation point compared to other media.

A consumer might buy a ludicrous number of $1 MP3s and listen to them once or a dozen times then leave them in their library. You can consume MP3s all the time, while working, while exercising, driving etc. Compare this to books - they take more time to consumer, they require attention to consumer, most people consumer far less of them compared to MP3s, TV or Movies.

So you are looking at the average consumer buying 2-3 @ $5 e-books in a month. Compared to Mp3/Movies/TV sales at places like itunes that is pretty small. Far less volume in e-book sales so the price point might have to be a little higher than what customers really think they are worth. That's why I think an e-book should be $7.50-10 (which is about £5 with exchange rates hehe).

02-08-2010, 01:25 PM	#1
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	BBC Radio prog discusses ebook pricing BBC Radio 4's consumer affairs programme, 'You and Yours', had an item on ebook pricing today. They pretty much covered points that have already been discussed here; but if anyone wants to hear it, it's on their podcast at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/ I'm not sure if it's geo restricted - the discussion runs from 08:25 - 14:30.

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02-08-2010, 01:26 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Most radio progs are available world-wide; it's only the TV progs that have restrictions ('cos of the licence fee!).

02-08-2010, 01:28 PM	#3
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Thanks Harry, I wasn't sure about radio. It's good to know it is widely available because there's plenty of good stuff for folks to listen to (although I'm not sure I'd put 'You and Yours' in that category ).

02-08-2010, 04:30 PM	#4
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	It's in the program for Monday 8th Feb, not in the podcast. It was interesting that one of those interviewed thought that ebooks would never go the way of itunes because it wasn't subject to piracy, was consumed differently, and was a longer-term purchase. The other interviewee seemed more sane, saying that in the end the price would be determined by the market, as of course it will. They reported an interesting experiment which, I think, Faber&Faber had done, where they allowed people to pay anything from 0 .. £14.99 for an ebook. Apparently, the majority chose 0, but of those who paid, the average was about £5. I think that this is where the market should and will go for new books.

02-08-2010, 04:45 PM	#5
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	The only thing about super low pricing is that I suspect books have a lower consumer saturation point compared to other media. A consumer might buy a ludicrous number of $1 MP3s and listen to them once or a dozen times then leave them in their library. You can consume MP3s all the time, while working, while exercising, driving etc. Compare this to books - they take more time to consumer, they require attention to consumer, most people consumer far less of them compared to MP3s, TV or Movies. So you are looking at the average consumer buying 2-3 @ $5 e-books in a month. Compared to Mp3/Movies/TV sales at places like itunes that is pretty small. Far less volume in e-book sales so the price point might have to be a little higher than what customers really think they are worth. That's why I think an e-book should be $7.50-10 (which is about £5 with exchange rates hehe).

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