- The Early Days: NewspaperDirect
- The Digital Shift: PressDisplay
- The Evolving Business Model: PressReader and Branded Editions
- The Acquisitions: Evident Point Software, News360 (and NativeAI)
- PressReader is beyond print
PressReader is a global leader in digital content distribution, offering access to thousands of newspapers, magazines and eBooks from around the world, covering over 100 countries and more than 60 languages.
PressReader’s mission is to empower and enrich curious minds. Its platform and technology enable people to discover and engage with stories that matter to them, while supporting publishers to grow their audiences and revenues. PressReader allows users to access content online or offline, on any device, with features such as instant translation, audio narration, commenting, and sharing.
PressReader is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone in its journey of providing unparalleled access to global content worldwide. Over the past two decades, PressReader’s commitment has remained steadfast in supporting publishers and brand partners as they navigate the constantly adapting tech ecosystem, devices, and user behaviors. But how did PressReader become what it is today? What are the key milestones and achievements that shaped its evolution as a company and as a product? And how did PressReader grow its capabilities and reach through the acquisition of other companies in the digital publishing space?
In this post, we will answer these questions and take a look at the history of PressReader, from its humble beginnings to its current position as a leader in the digital publishing industry.
The Early Days: NewspaperDirect
PressReader was founded in 1999 as NewspaperDirect, a company that specialized in printing and delivering same-day editions of international newspapers to hotels, cruise ships, airlines and other businesses. NewspaperDirect used a patented technology that allowed it to print high-quality replicas of newspapers on demand, using standard laser printers and paper.
NewspaperDirect emerged as a successful and profitable business, navigating through new opportunities and challenges. The printing and delivery costs were high, the environmental impact was significant, and the customers’ preferences were changing. Recognizing the evolving preferences of customers, who increasingly turned to digital devices for news consumption, NewspaperDirect embraced this new reality with enthusiasm.
The Digital Shift: PressDisplay
In 2003, NewspaperDirect launched PressDisplay, an online platform that offered digital replicas of newspapers and magazines. PressDisplay was the first service of its kind, allowing users to read full-content publications on their computers or mobile devices, with features such as zooming, panning, searching, translating and sharing.
PressDisplay was a game-changer for NewspaperDirect, as it opened new markets and opportunities. It not only attracted individual subscribers, but also libraries, universities, government agencies and corporate clients. PressDisplay also enabled NewspaperDirect to partner with publishers and offer them a new revenue stream and a wider audience.
On the other hand, PressDisplay quickly gained popularity among consumers, publishers and businesses, who appreciated its convenience, quality and value. It also enabled publishers to reach new audiences and markets, while reducing their printing and distribution costs. The launch of the PressReader app, alongside PressDisplay’s offerings (as pressreader.com), propelled them to become the world’s largest digital newsstand, with over 7,000 titles from 120+ countries by 2017.
The Evolving Business Model: PressReader and Branded Editions
In 2009, PressReader emerged as a commercial brand in the form of a mobile app. In 2013, NewspaperDirect rebranded itself as PressReader, reflecting its focus on digital content distribution and reading experience. PressReader expanded its portfolio of publications, adding more titles from many other countries and languages. PressReader also enhanced its user experience, introducing a new app that offered a more intuitive and personalized way of reading digital publications.
Additionally, PressReader developed new business models and partnerships, such as sponsored access and hotspot networks. Sponsored access provides users with complimentary access to PressReader at participating establishments, such as hotels, cafes, airports and gyms. Hotspot networks allow venues to offer PressReader as a value-added service to their customers, enhancing their loyalty and satisfaction.
PressReader revolutionized digital news reading, starting with SmartEdition in 2005, a customizable web platform for publishers. In 2010, they expanded to iPads, and in 2021, Branded Editions became the next chapter, giving publishers full control over their branded websites and apps, with monetization options like subscriptions and advertising.
The Acquisitions: Evident Point Software, News360 (and NativeAI)
During its evolution, PressReader acquired two companies that are worth mentioning : “Evident Point Software” in 2021 and “News360” in 2019. “News360” acquisition included “NativeAI”, the publisher analytics and personalization platform.
- Evident Point Software is a software development company that specializes in creating custom e-learning solutions for education and corporate clients. Evident Point Software also developed Readium SDK, an open-source toolkit for building EPUB 3 reading applications. By acquiring Evident Point Software, PressReader gained access to its expertise in e-learning technology and EPUB 3 standards.
- News360 is a personalized news aggregation app that uses artificial intelligence to analyze user preferences and deliver relevant news stories from various sources. News360 also offers a platform for publishers to distribute their content to targeted audiences. By acquiring News360, PressReader enhanced its ability to provide personalized news recommendations and content discovery features to its users.
- News360’s NativeAI is an audience intelligence platform for news publishers that uses natural language processing (NLP) to analyze content performance, reader behavior, and engagement metrics. NativeAI also provides insights and recommendations for publishers to optimize their content strategy. By absorbing NativeAI, PressReader improved its analytics and personalization capabilities.
A draft timeline of landmarks that mark PressReader’s history
NewspaperDirect is born
NewspaperDirect was founded in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada by Alexander Kroogman.
2003
PressDisplay revolution
NewspaperDirect launched PressDisplay, an online platform that offered digital replicas of newspapers and magazines.
2005
Hello SmartEdition
NewspaperDirect launched its first SmartEdition™, a white-labeled version of PressDisplay for publishers.
2009
NewspaperDirect launches iPhone app as PresssReader
NewspaperDirect launched the PressReader app for iPhone. At first, the name PressReader was only used for the newsstand app, but later became the name of both the main site and the company.
2013
The PressReader brand
NewspaperDirect rebranded itself as PressReader, reflecting its focus on digital content distribution and delivering enhanced reading experiences.
PressReader app revamped
PressReader launched a new revamped app.
2018
The re-birth
PressReader updated its brand (new logo, new designs).
2019
PressReader acquires News360
PressReader acquired News360 with NativeAI platform. A company that specializes in personalized news aggregation and audience intelligence for news publishers.
2021
Evident Point Software aquisition
PressReader acquired Evident Point Software, a software development company that specializes in creating custom e-learning solutions and EPUB 3 reading applications.
2022
Ruairí Doyle take the helm
PressReader announced the CEO succession. Ruairí Doyle was appointed chief executive officer; Alexander Kroogman transitioned to executive director.
2023
The New York Times
PressReader became the exclusive distributor of The New York Times Company’s digital News products and digital replica editions to hotels, airlines, cruise- and ferry lines, as well as non-U.S. public libraries and patient-care facilities.
May 2024
Le Monde
Le Monde, one of France’s leading national newspapers, has signed an exclusive partnership with PressReader to distribute its daily print edition and Le Monde in English to airlines, hotels, healthcare facilities, and retirement homes.
June 2024
PressReader 25th Anniversary
PressReader Celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Check out their 25th anniversary page to see their journey and get a sneak peek at what’s next.
PressReader is beyond print
PressReader has been constantly innovating and transforming since its inception. And it will continue to do so in the future.
PressReader’s vision is to be the ultimate destination for quality journalism, where readers can find and enjoy content from any source, in any language, and on any device. PressReader is constantly innovating and expanding its product offerings, such as launching new apps, integrating with voice assistants and partnering with leading media organizations.
PressReader’s vision is to be the ultimate destination for quality journalism, where readers can find and enjoy content from any source, in any language, and on any device.
PressReader’s vision is also to inspire people to read more, discover more and share more. It aims to empower readers with the information and perspectives they need to understand the world and themselves better. It also strives to support publishers with the tools and solutions they need to thrive in the digital age. PressReader is constantly innovating and improving its platform, using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies.
The future is bright
The future of PressReader is bright and exciting. PressReader plans to continue expanding its content library by adding more titles and genres from different regions and languages, and at the same time, enhancing its user experience, making it more personalized, interactive and engaging. PressReader is also looking to explore new opportunities and collaborations with other media platforms and organizations, creating a more diverse and inclusive media ecosystem.
PressReader is more than just a company or a product. It is a community of passionate readers, publishers and partners who share a common goal: to make quality journalism accessible and sustainable for everyone.
