Emerging Business Models for the Digital Book: Harlequin

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Emerging Business Models for the Digital Book
Harlequin

• Connected Mobile 2006
• May 24, 2006
• Malle Vallik

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Digital Publishing
Multiple Media

• eBooks
• Mobile
• Downloadable audio

Leverage Editorial Assets Across Multiple Media

• Stay relevant as readers evolve the format by
  which they experience books
• Attract new readers who use other formats but
  have not tried Harlequin

Digital Strategy
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Harlequin
Broad Audience, Broad Appeal

• Content variety and volume
• Over 100 titles published each month
• Fifteen series representing every aspect of
  romance womens fiction
• Nine strong, relevant imprints
• Universal appeal
• 188 Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list
• NASCAR branded publishing partnership
• Loyal audience
• 50 million women readers worldwide
• 131 million books sold in 2005

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Harlequin is a Destination Mass Merchandisers
Wal-Mart Series Section
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Harlequin is a Destination Bookchains
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eBooks
Oct 05 Launch

• Launched with 65 titles
• 40 frontlist July 06
• Strategic backlist fall 06
• 375 titles by year end 06
• Categorized by subgenres Passion, Romantic
  Suspense, Chick Lit
• eRetailers with dedicated Harlequin space
  experienced higher sales

Key Insights

• eBook customer behaves like current Harlequin
  readers loves the passion category books

eReader.com Bestseller List April 6, 2006
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eBooks
Next Steps

• Increased frontlist eBook publishing schedule
• Strategic backlist
• Launch eHarlequin.com eBooks store
• Launch Harlequin Mini eBook of online reads at
  99 (exclusive to eHQN)
• Bundle content on readers
• eHarlequin.com community

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eBook Customer

• eBenefits immediate, convenient, portable,
  quantity
• Everyone
• Awareness
• New readers
• Ease of use
• The eBook people at the party told me that my
  phone could do eBooks.
• Evergreen

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Mobile
Program Highlights

• Daily Reads
• Leverages robust flexibility of online read
  content
• Six Degrees of Kissing
• Connect celebrity movie kisses
• Writing 101
• Weekly tips
• Harlequin Poll
• Vote on daily romantic entertainment question
• Book List / Buy
• Preview of 5 current books each day
• Move to wish list for future shopping reference
• Buy from your phone

• Unique
• No other publisher is doing this
• Limited mobile content for women

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Audio
Program Highlights

• Partnership with Audible.com
• Downloadable
• 75 titles by September
• Top sellers Single title editorial and
  well-reviewed and promoted debuts

Key Insights

• Not a traditional Harlequin reader
• Well reviewed editorial works well
• Sexy sells

Audible Romance Bestseller List March 16, 2006