Financial Times called an end-around play to dodge the Apple App Store, releasing a Web app that brings its content to several smartphones and tablets, including the iPad, with one login and one subscription payment for users.
Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews. FT.com managing director Robert Grimshaw spoke with Beet.TV at the paidContent 2011 conference last week, saying that some 45 percent of digital news is now consumed via mobile devices, and adding that his site’s approximately 200,000 subscriptions equal one-half of worldwide print subscriptions to Financial Times.
Financial Times global head of video operations Richard Edgar spoke with Beet.TV about the newspaper’s ongoing video expansion, including a new TV studio at its headquarters in London, new video staff in its bureaus in New York and Hong Kong, and video cameras for print reporters.
Financial Times announced that it currently totals 206,892 paying digital subscribers, up 71 percent from the same time last year, paidContent reported.
FT has a daily print circulation of 390,121, according to paidContent, and the digital figure does not include print subscribers who receive digital access, instead counting standard subscriptions (£233.48, or $370.60, per year), premium subscriptions (£337.48/$535.68), and enterprise subscriptions from corporations.
CEO John Ridding recently said FT‘s iPad app was downloaded 430,000 times between April and October, accounting for about 10 percent of new digital subscriptions, according to paidContent.
Tilt is bad in pinball, but Financial Times hopes it’s good when it comes to covering emerging markets, as the newspaper announced the debut of FT Tilt, a premium online financial news and analysis service covering that sector.
FT Tilt was launched by the same team that created financial blog FT Alphaville, which made its U.S. debut in September 2009, and it will cover Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South and East Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe.
The service also includes Tilt Populi, a community where approved members share commentary or research on emerging markets topics; Tilt Pro, a premium, subscription-only area with exclusive news, analysis, and insight; and an enhanced search and filtering system. FT Tempo — in which FT Tilt journalists offer a “sentiment score” when news is published, calculating whether it will be upbeat or downbeat for companies, sectors, or asset classes involved — will be added soon.
Financial Times is serious about tablets, as paidContent reports that anyone on the publisher’s staff of 1,800 who purchases an iPad or other tablet device will receive a rebate of £300 ($480), which could mean a bill of £540,000 ($864,000) if everyone takes advantage of the offer.
Staffers who already own tablets are also eligible for the rebate, according to paidContent.
From a memo to staff by FT Group CEO John Ridding, via paidContent:
I’m pleased to let you know that we are launching today a new initiative that will allow FT staff to claim a £300 (€350/$480) subsidy for the purchase of a personal iPad or tablet. This will run from today until June 30.
The FT is making this investment because digital channels and tablet devices are becoming increasingly important for us and the media industry in general, and as recognition of your contribution to our strong performance this year.
As originally announced in March, Financial Times is now accepting PayPal as a payment option for users who want to subscribe to its FT.com Web site.
PayPal can also be used for FT‘s new FT Press Cuttings tool, which launches Thursday. FT Press Cuttings allows users such as public-relations professionals to email full-text articles at £1 ($1.58) per recipient. Links can still be sent free-of-charge.
The Financial Times recently ran a full page advertisement in their paper highlighting their Twitter feed and asking users “Hear first and act fast with Twitter feeds.” The Financial Times is one of the leading news organizations in the world, and the fact that they are driving users to Twitter underscores the importance of social media.
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I just received an email from Financial Times announcing about the sneak preview of their newly redesigned home page. According to the email, the redesigned was aimed at establishing a sophisticated look and feel for the site which is consistent with the Financial Times branding. This branding includes a clean and uncluttered executive briefing on the world of global business. Read more
According to the Guardian, the Financial Times is launching an exclusive social network that will cost members up to $4,000 a year. This membership comes with the benefits of networking with “peers and luminaries operating within the digital, new media, mobile and telecoms sectors.” Benefits include tickets to one Financial Times conference, offline networking events and a 12-month premium subscription to the Financial Times website.
For those looking to take their social networking to the next level, this may be a great opportunity as long as you can afford the $4,000 price tag. Other social networks such as A Small World successfully used the exclusive model to attract a highly select group of individuals. Previously, there were rumors floating around that the Wall Street Journal may be launching a similar service in conjunction with LinkedIn. So far nothing has been confirmed.
Niche social networks tied with exclusivity provide a highly valuable service to its members. There is almost an infinite number of “exclusive” groups that could be targeted so I would expect to see these types of networks continue to pop up. One thing that I think would be useful on this network is to name a few of the participating members or at least the companies they represent. This would help some executives make a more informed decision about purchasing a membership.
Would you pay $4,000 for an exclusive social network?
