Rogers to launch all-you-can-read subscription digital magazine service
Rogers Media is bundling all of its magazines into a single subscription service available to tablet readers à la Netflix’s cable bundle. The new service—called Next Issue Canada—gives subscribers unlimited access to a catalogue of more than 100 Canadian and U.S. titles, including Vogue, Chatelaine, The New Yorker, Maclean’s, GQ, Esquire, LOULOU, Rolling Stone and TIME.
Rogers Media is bundling all of its magazines into a single subscription service available to tablet readers à la Netflix’s cable bundle. The new service—called Next Issue Canada—gives subscribers unlimited access to a catalogue of more than 100 Canadian and U.S. titles, including Vogue, Chatelaine, The New Yorker, Maclean’s, GQ, Esquire, LOULOU, Rolling Stone and TIME.
Next Issue Canada launches Oct. 15 exclusively for current subscribers of Rogers magazines on a trial basis for two months, and it will be available to all Canadian readers as of Dec. 15 for $9.99 a month. Subscribers can also select a $14.99 package, which includes all weekly publications. With either subscription, all digitized back issues are included.
“The Next Issue platform is the future of magazine content consumption. It gives audiences added value with the world’s best magazines in a format that enhances what they love about magazines—engaging visuals and in-depth content, with a more personalized, interactive experience,” said Rogers Media president Keith Pelley in a memo to all employees. “Rogers continues to be at the forefront of digital innovation, leading the transition in how audiences consume content.”
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Rogers has picked Ken Whyte, who is currently president of Rogers Publishing and Custom Content, to head up Next Issue Canada as its first president. Pelley will fill in as president of Rogers Publishing on an interim basis.
Next Issue Media was formed in 2009 and is a joint venture formed by five American publishers—Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, NewsCorp and Time Inc.—and is now joined by Rogers Media. Whyte and Melinda Rogers, senior vice-president of strategy and development at Rogers Communications, have since joined the Next Issue Media’s board of directors.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Rogers to bring for the first time the Next Issue experience to customers outside of the U.S.,” said Morgan Guenther, CEO of Next Issue Media in a statement. “In addition to its popular magazine titles, the Rogers organization offers unparalleled reach to consumers throughout Canada via its cable, wireless, broadcast, sports and Internet properties.”
The initial version of the Next Issue Canada app will be available in English, with a French version coming in 2014.
Tamara Baluja is an award-winning journalist with CBC Vancouver and the 2018 Michener-Deacon fellow for journalism education. She was the associate editor for J-Source from 2013-2014.