Analysis of Some of the Highs and Lows of Ebook Subscriptions for Publishers

Although 2015 was a big year for ebook subscription, with more publishers participating in subscription services like Oyster, Scribd, and Entitle than ever before, the year also marked a significant stumbling block for this market. Both Oyster and Entitle shuttered their doors in 2015, leaving Scribd and Kindle Unlimited as the leading ebook and audiobook subscription services in the U.S.

Despite these closures, new, hybrid subscription services have emerged, like Disney’s DisneyLife, which features Disney ebooks alongside Disney movies and games. A similar multimedia subscription platform called Playster launched in the U.S. this year, promising greater ebook discovery opportunities for book titles featured alongside consumers’ favorite TV shows, movies, and video games.