Wednesday 4 June 2014

Going Digital: Will eBooks Eclipse the Printed Word?

BBC News reports that the sale of printed books will be outstripped by eBooks by 2018, a new report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) has suggested. It says the consumer eBook market - which excludes text books and professional manuals - will increase in value from £380 million to £1 billion. At the same time, sales of printed books are forecast to fall by a third. PwC said 50% of the UK population would own an iPad, Kobo, Kindle or similar e-reader device by 2018. It added that 15.5 billion apps were expected to be downloaded in the UK in 2018. 

The company's evaluation of the eBook market is at odds with the founder of the Waterstone's book shop who predicted the "e-book revolution" would soon go into decline. Tim Waterstone told the Oxford Literary Festival in March that "every indication - certainly from America - shows the eBook share is already in decline. The indications are that it will do exactly the same in the UK."

Mobile devices are increasing and the desire for digital content can only increase. what will make a big difference is if major publishers or authors decide to publish certain works as eBooks only.

SJP (@DigitalAsian)

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