AP forms unit to sell digital subscriptions, advertising; plans fee-based iPad app
By APFriday, February 26, 2010
AP takes aim at consumers with new digital unit
DENVER — The Associated Press is setting up a division to help the news cooperative, newspapers and broadcasters sell digital products directly to readers on the next wave of Internet-connected devices such as Apple’s iPad.
AP CEO Tom Curley announced the new business unit Friday.
The new group is called AP Gateway. It will focus on expanding such products as the AP Mobile news service for cell phones. It also will keep developing the kinds of online platforms that the AP created for the Winter Olympics and Copenhagen climate talks.
Some services might be supported by advertising revenue, while others might require readers to pay subscriptions. For instance, the group plans to sell a news application on the upcoming Apple iPad.
