Apple Considering Offering Audio Versions of News+ Stories

apple news iconApple News+ may provide users with an option to listen to audio versions of some stories in the future, according to publishers who spoke with Digiday:

Over the past several months, Apple has been asking the publishers participating in its year-old premium program for permission to produce audio versions of the stories distributed there, according to sources at four different publishers that have heard the pitch.

Apple will handle production costs, and compensate publishers in the same way it compensates them for the written content available on Apple News+, two sources said; Apple metes out 50% of subscriber revenue to publishers based on how much time those subscribers spend with publishers’ content in a 30-day period.

There is no timetable for when the audio versions of stories may launch.

The report also notes that many publishers remain dissatisfied with the revenue they earn from Apple News. In December, one publisher told Digiday that they generate less than $20,000 per month from Apple News+.

Speaking on an earnings call last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple News had reached 125 million monthly active users, but the company has not provided an update on Apple News+ subscribers since noting that over 200,000 users signed up for the service in the first 48 hours after it launched last year.

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Top Rated Comments

Naaaaak Avatar
67 months ago
I don't understand why I would want to pay for Apple News+, most of which is just big network propaganda, over an RSS reader with feeds I add that are catered to me and free.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
67 months ago
They should also consider calling it a day
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imnotthewalrus Avatar
67 months ago
I’ve tried to warm up to Apple News...for me, it’s less frustrating to simply web search what info I’m looking for. Apple News has too many paywalled stories (which I realize is how it’s paid for), but my admittedly cheapskate view is “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” ?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mykbibby Avatar
67 months ago
Of all of Apple's service expansions, this is actually my favorite and the one I see having the most long term promise.

That said, it's really embarrassing for Apple how poorly these have performed. Tim Cook has a lot of strengths, but if there was one thing Steve Jobs would have been absolutely perfect for, it would have been extending Apple's reach into the original production and distribution of art and media. It's a real shame we didn't get to see what that would have looked like—especially Apple TV+.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w5jck Avatar
67 months ago
Apple News is crap. The stories are available through better sources. The articles tend to be old and recycled over and over again for days or even weeks. For news to be news, it needs to be new! An old story ceased being news after it was first reported. And the paywall just makes it all suck even more. I can get my news from other easily accessed sources, and it is more up to date and less of an Entertainment Tonight style of garbage.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trusso Avatar
67 months ago

That said, it's really embarrassing for Apple how poorly these have performed. Tim Cook has a lot of strengths, but if there was one thing Steve Jobs would have been absolutely perfect for, it would have been extending Apple's reach into the original production and distribution of art and media. It's a real shame we didn't get to see what that would have looked like—especially Apple TV+.
Actually, I think Steve would have had the wherewithal to stay the f--- out.

Tim thinks just because you throw a bunch of money at something you can be good at it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)