Even before the iPad was officially launched in Norway and Sweden on November 30, a lot of people had found other ways to purchase the tablet, which has become quite popular in Scandinavia. Since the iPad was launched internationally for the first time over seven months ago Schibsted Media Group’s media houses have put down a lot of work to adapt their editorial products quality content to new digital platforms. Some of the iPad editions have already been launched; others will be ready within short.
SvD: releasing more apps
Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) on iPad consists of the complete daily issue of the Swedish newspaper, including ads and commercial supplements. Initially, SvD will be available by single copy sale in App Store. In the next phase the readers will be able to subscribe to the iPad issue, which will also include more advertisement options. Samuelsson reveals that SvD will launch other apps too in the time to come.
- We will launch a magazine covering contemporary issues for those who want a complete digital experience combined with SvD’s classic journalism covering community, business and cultural issues. It will be a unique monthly magazine for iPad that we are very excited about.
VG: from iPad to ”iPay”
On December 9th VG could finally release its iPad app, called VG+.
- In our time VG has to meet its readers where the readers are. Therefore, we should publish our content on all the media platforms that people are using, declares Bernt Olufsen, Editor in Chief at VG, Norway’s most widely read newspaper.
VG+ will publish a daily edition every morning at 6:00 hrs, and then an updated evening edition at 18:00 hrs. The reader will get access to the contents of VG, in addition to several of VG’s supplements and publications such as VG Helg, VG Fredag, VG Nett, VGTV, Dine Penger and E24. This selection includes the main news stories combined with tempting magazine stories, useful tips, well-formulated leader articles, the latest reviews and the best from VG’s sports section.
VG+ iPad edition will be free of charge in the launching phase, which will last for about two months.
- We want as many as possible to get to know our new product. After that, the iPad has to become “iPay”, in the sense that we have to charge the subscribers. It costs a lot of money to produce good editorial content. If VG is to continue its leading position in Norwegian media through its including and revealing articles, well then we depend on financing from the readers, says Olufsen.
Aftonbladet: Sports on iPad
Aftonbladet, Swedens largest and most read newspaper, is launching an iPad version of the sports magazine”Sportsbladet”. It will be free of charge until February, after which it will become a subscription service. A test panel has already praised Sportsbladet’s iPad app.
- Most of all they like its functionalities and thoroughly developed characteristics. It is based on the paper edition of Sportsbladet, including its layout and design, in combination with frequent updates, more images and more movement, says COO Pontus Ogebjer at Aftonbladet Sport.