Zinio expands reach in digital media market with 1,000 new mag titles available to library patrons

Zinio, the digital magazine newsstand, has announced an aggressive move to expand by offering an additional 1,000 magazine titles to library patrons, more than doubling the number of titles available to users to 1,800 -- including international titles with non-English language content. 

The digital Zinio for Libraries service has experienced a 300% growth in registered users in the past year, according to Beth Murphy, the executive vice-president of product and chief marketing officer for Zinio. Zinio specializes in replica editions of popular magazines, readable on browsers or mobile devices using one of its apps.

While Zinio is offered in Canadian libraries, many of the best known and largest titles from Rogers Media were withdrawn from the service when Rogers launched Next Issue Canada in collaboration with the five biggest U.S. magazine publishers. Also, Magazines Canada allowed a partnership with Zinio to lapse and launched its own digital newsstand, featuring member magazines.

"Library patrons are demonstrating rapid adoption of digital magazines by accessing magazine content through Zinio for Libraries, with new checkouts of online magazines averaging over 1,000,000 per month," said Rich Freese, Recorded Books President and CEO. RBdigital, partners with Zinio. "The digital media market for libraries is showing exponential growth. Every minute a new library patron is added, 13 magazines are checked out on Zinio for Libraries. We expect that the addition of international digital magazines with new language content will appeal to an even broader selection of patrons with multinational interests and diverse cultural backgrounds."

Zinio digital magazine provider said up for sale

[This post has been updated] Zinio, the digital magazine provider is apparently seeking a buyer, according to a story published by Fortune magazine.

The San Francisco-based company has hired investment bank Montgomery & Co. to manage the process, with one source saying that the company is seeking between $50 million and $100 million. No idea yet if there is buy-side interest at that price.

Zinio raised venture capital in the early part of the aughts, from brand-name firms like Apax Partners, New Enterprise Associates, North Bridge Venture Partners and Commonwealth Capital Ventures. But those firms all sold their stakes (for very little) more than five years ago to a real estate and hotel magnate named David Gilmour, who currently serves as the company's executive chairman.

Among its ventures, Zinio Canada partners with Magazines Canada in its Digital Newsstand, whereby dozens of member magazines make digital replica editions available, both by subscription and single copy.

[Update:  Folio: reports that Zinio put out a statement saying, indeed, that it has retained a merchant bank to "facilitate capital raising strategies and discussions."

"While the company has been engaged in similar discussions in the past," [it said] "Zinio has never had a stronger vision, strategy and roadmap to engage the right set of potential partners."]