Rakuten bolsters ebooks by gobbling up distributor OverDrive

Rakuten is trying to inject some black ink into its struggling ebook business with the acquisition of OverDrive Holdings, one of the largest providers of ebooks for rent to libraries and schools.The Japan-based e-commerce giant will gain about 21 million users in the US$410 million deal as well as a digital distribution platform with over 2.5 million titles and relationships with thousands of publishers, libraries and schools.Cleveland, Ohio-based OverDrive makes rental ebooks available as Web apps or e-reader files. While content on OverDrive’s lending-focused marketplace is available on multiple platforms including Kindle from Rakuten rival Amazon.com, the move could boost the profile of Kobo, Rakuten’s small e-reader company.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive: Record Number of Libraries Hit Million Digital Lend Mark

Leading library service provider OverDrive this week reported that a total of 121 public libraries and consortia across seven countries and from 37 U.S. states surpassed one million digital lends in 2021, a significant jump from 2020, when 102 libraries hit the mark. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive Reports More than Half a Billion Digital Library Loans in 2021

In exceeding more than 500 million annual lends for the first time, OverDrive's 2021 figures suggest the pandemic has, as librarians have suggested, raised demand for digital content in public libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Library audio and ebook loans in 2021 reveal unexpected stars

Alongside Richard Osman and JK Rowling, figures show huge successes for relative unknowns Ellery Adams and Brenda ChapmanThe UK’s library users are widely seen as a traditional bunch when it comes to choosing their next read, but while Richard Osman might have topped the list of the year’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-12-08 16:34:37 UTC ]
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Toronto’s Annick Press: ‘Global Certified Accessible’ in Canadian Ebooks

Among the first children's publishers to achieve Benetech's accreditation, Annick Press stresses that 'diversity' includes access. The post Toronto’s Annick Press: ‘Global Certified Accessible’ in Canadian Ebooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-05 18:44:15 UTC ]
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IPG Buys U.K Distribution Company United Independent Distributors

Independent Publishers Group has acquired U.K.-based United Independent Distributors. IPG CEO Joe Matthews called the deal a “game-changing acquisition,” and one that will make IPG one of the world’s largest book distributors for indie publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive Education Acquires TeachingBooks.net

OverDrive executives said the acquisition will enhance OverDrive Education's Sora reading app and platform, which serve K-12 schools around the world. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany’s First Half of 2021: Ebook Dynamics, and Libraries

German publishers say that robust ebook performance last year and this year could be impacted by state-subsidized e-lending. The post Germany’s First Half of 2021: Ebook Dynamics, and Libraries appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-09-08 03:50:02 UTC ]
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Lutkus Named President of Diamond Book Distributors

Diamond Book Distributors, the trade book distribution division of Diamond Comic Distributors, has named Tony Lutkus as its new president, effective August 16. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive to Acquire Kanopy

The acquisition of Kanopy adds an extensive video catalog to the OverDrive platform, with some 30,000 films available to students and library users through the Kanopy platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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AAP StatShot February Report: US Audiobooks and Ebooks Maintain Strength

In January and February, ebooks were up 20.4 percent and downloadable audio was up 23.7 percent over 2020. The post AAP StatShot February Report: US Audiobooks and Ebooks Maintain Strength appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-28 15:55:41 UTC ]
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Finland’s 2020 Audiobook Sales Doubled, Ebooks Up 84 Percent

A new book market report on Finland's book market shows the impact of the pandemic and looks at the bestselling Finnish books of 2020. The post Finland’s 2020 Audiobook Sales Doubled, Ebooks Up 84 Percent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-25 16:14:36 UTC ]
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How Reading Ebooks Changes Our Perception (And Reviews)

Take a deep dive into research around reading ebooks and print books, and how these experiences compare to each other and other media. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-02 11:33:00 UTC ]
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Your Ultimate Guide on Where to Buy Ebooks

Confused about where to buy ebooks without breaking the bank? Here's your ultimate guide to finding discounts and sales for your next read. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-01 11:35:00 UTC ]
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'Price gouging from Covid': student ebooks costing up to 500% more than in print

Call for inquiry into academic publishers as locked-down students unable to access study material onlineCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLibrarians at UK universities say students’ reading lists for this term are being torn up because of publishers’ “eye-watering”... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-29 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon.com and 'Big Five' publishers accused of ebook price-fixing

Class action lawsuit filed in US claims the houses have colluded with the online giant to keep prices artificially highAmazon.com and the “Big Five” publishers – Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster – have been accused of colluding to fix ebook... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-15 13:04:33 UTC ]
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OverDrive Reports Surge in Digital Library Lending in 2020

Readers worldwide borrowed some 430 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines in the past 12 months, a hefty 33% increase over 2019, OverDrive officials reported, based on data drawn from some 65,000 libraries and schools worldwide. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
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AT&T acquires Canada's You.i TV to bolster efforts to get HBO Max into more markets

AT&T’s WarnerMedia has brought on a startup to help it get HBO Max into more places. The entertainment arm of the Dallas company has acquired Canada-based You.i TV, a provider of cross-platform development tools for television and media companies, according to a statement.  Terms were not... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-12-23 22:03:09 UTC ]
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Booksellers bolstered by record sales after lockdown

Bookshops have reported a pre-Christmas bonanza in the days since England's lockdown ended, with some seeing record sales. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-08 00:21:48 UTC ]
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Pandemic drives ebook and audiobook sales by UK publishers to all-time high

Printed book sales plunge in first six months of 2020 on back of shop and school closuresSee all our coronavirus coverageSales of digital books by British publishers are set to hit an all-time high this year as the public turns to reading to escape pandemic cabin fever.However, the ebook and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-14 07:00:02 UTC ]
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In Germany: Audiobooks, Ebooks, and the ‘Battle for Attention’

A new look at German consumers' responses to a survey was reported during a week in which Frankfurter Buchmesse 'lived' on screens. The post In Germany: Audiobooks, Ebooks, and the ‘Battle for Attention’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-10-20 16:21:29 UTC ]
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