News: digital

BookBeat 'pauses' investment in UK audiobook market

The Bonnier Books-owned BookBeat is "pausing" broader investments in the UK market until more publishers allow their titles to be streamed Read more

Bookshops staffed with robots to open in Beijing

Twenty automated bookstores staffed by robots are reportedly expected to open in Beijing later this year, offering a 24-hour-a-day service. Read more

Publishers' digital service exports 29% higher than previously thought

The Creative Industries Federation has published a report claiming the true value of the UK's creative digital exports, including from the publishing sector, is much higher than originally... Read more

Delivery drones could launch next year

Drones may soon be able to fly beyond their operators' line of sight, opening up possibilities for retailers such as Amazon to use them for... Read more

Verso releases free #MeToo e-book

Radical publisher Verso Books has released a free e-book in response to the #MeToo movement. Read more

Canongate partners with audiobook streaming distributor

Canongate has partnered with streaming service Zebralution to distribute its audiobooks on streaming services such as Spotify. Read more

Streaming boom means entertainment sales outstrip print

Print sales have been overtaken by sales of home entertainment products for the first time ever, according to a report from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA).... Read more

Serial Box secures $1.65m in initial funding

Serialised reading platform Serial Box, hailed as the "HBO of reading", has secured $1.65m (£1.18m) in initial funding. Read more

Nourry: 'the e-book is a stupid product'

Hachette Group c.e.o. Arnaud Nourry has expressed frustration with the e-book format, calling it a "stupid product" and forecasting its sales would continue to plateau because... Read more

Michael O'Mara launches audio list

Michael O’Mara Books is expanding its publishing programme by launching a new audiobook list for key titles. Read more

A third of erotic audiobooks downloaded by men

More men are listening to erotic audiobooks, making up almost a third of the market, with a quarter of all Fifty Shades of Grey downloads from male... Read more

Atwood adapts first graphic novel with Audible

Margaret Atwood has teamed up with Audible to adapt her first graphic novel, Angel Catbird, into an audio drama.... Read more

Bath Spa creates ghost tale which personalises to every reader

A two-year literature research project at Bath Spa University has culminated in a digital ghost story which personalises the “haunting” to each reader through their... Read more

S&S UK launch monthly podcast series

Simon & Schuster UK has launched a new podcast offering interviews, insights, discussions and ideas as well as exclusive essays from authors, on the world... Read more

Robinson celebrates 25 years of Overcoming with website relaunch

The Robinson Psychology list is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Overcoming series of self-help books by revamping and rebranding the Overcoming website.... Read more