Apple News May Expand Ways Publishers Can Sell Ads, Enable Micropayments

Apple News attracts millions of monthly readers on iPhone and iPad, but some publishers have been reluctant to adopt the platform due to limited revenue and hassles placing ads alongside content. Fortunately for publishers, that could soon change.

apple news iphone ipad
Ad Age reports that Apple eventually plans to allow publishers to use the ad tech they already employ on their sites, such as Google's DoubleClick for Publishers, to deliver third-party ads in the Apple News app.

The report, citing multiple unnamed publishers, claims Apple also plans to enable micropayment options so people can access articles "for cents at a time," but no specific details were provided.

The changes, which reportedly remain at least a few months away from being implemented, could lead to increased revenue for publishers, who in turn may find participating in Apple News to be more worthwhile.

"The bigger thing is they've now seen the light," said the top publishing exec, who was familiar with the plans but spoke on condition of anonymity. "Apple is acknowledging it can't force its ad technology into the marketplace and it makes more sense to allow standard ad serving."

Apple recently updated its Advertising Guide for Apple News to indicate that third-party ad tags can be used to serve third-party Standard, Double, Large, MREC, Interstitial, IAB 300x250, and IAB 728x90 ads on iOS 10.3 and above.

Apple News, which aggregates stories from multiple publishers, is currently available in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom.

Top Rated Comments

iapplelove Avatar
75 months ago
I've deleted Apple news a while back.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
75 months ago
"But fortunately that could change soon"

Not fortunately to any of us who use the service.
I dislike ads as much as anyone but understand that content creators need to get paid. Advertising seems to be the only viable revenue stream since the general public seems to have an aversion to paying for anything internet related. All advertising isn't bad, but the over the top, in your face, auto-playing, cannot avoid advertising drags all advertising down in the public eye. If Apple can curate the advertising to avoid the negative kinds, I think people would be more accepting.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
75 months ago
Its not the ad's themselves but the ad with the dog that I seem to click when scrolling. Somehow make it where I see the ad but less sensitive to the click so I can move down the page without opening the ad all the time. I have to focus where to touch so I miss that thing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macguru212 Avatar
75 months ago
Not an Apple news fans... but I think there's a little too much advertising since iAd1 - some sites are ruined by videos, full screen ads, fake close boxes that open up new windows, etc, etc... Web browsing on an iPad was once a joy, now it really stinks. can't wait for iAd2 to force me back to a laptop.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JRobinsonJr Avatar
75 months ago
I dislike ads as much as anyone but understand that content creators need to get paid. Advertising seems to be the only viable revenue stream since the general public seems to have an aversion to paying for anything internet related. All advertising isn't bad, but the over the top, in your face, auto-playing, cannot avoid advertising drags all advertising down in the public eye. If Apple can curate the advertising to avoid the negative kinds, I think people would be more accepting.
Well said! I will concur that there should be some mechanism to reward publishers for the content. Even advertising is not inherently bad. My personal gripe is when you get 3-4 sentences of content buried in a full page of ads.

Here's a couple of options that I could be happy with.

1. A subscription to "Apple News" that would take care of MOST finances in the background. What would be an appropriate cost? I'm thinking the price of a daily newspaper plus a magazine. Maybe $10/month? My local paper (the Fort Worth Star Telegram) sells digital only subscriptions for $99/year. I would cheerfully pay that for a fully advertiser-free experience.

2. Up-Front Advertisement: read/watch an ad or 2... then get access for a short time.

3. In-line Advertisement: limited to 1 or 2 ads per page and no more than X (20%?) of the screen space.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0003462 Avatar
75 months ago
What is the point of Apple News? To try and steer people away from Facebook? I follow the news but I can’t repmember the last time I launched this app. Seems pointless when I can get this stuff elsewhere.
I use it as a place to read the likes of MacRumors, 9to5Mac, MacStories, Outside, National Geographic rather than using Safari.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
Hero0009

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 Gets Massive $250 Discount, Along With Year's Best AirPods Prices

Friday March 24, 2023 10:23 am PDT by
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
dynamic island

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...