Publishers see tablets as new revenue source

Publishers have spent more than a decade figuring out how to adjust to and generate profit in an increasingly digital world. While websites were once viewed as the primary platform for new business, a study from the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) finds that publishers are turning to a new medium -- tablets.

According to a survey of online publishers from the UK, 42 percent of respondents indicate that they now see tablet computers as the primary platform for paid content. Websites, which have traditionally been the leading platform, rank second.

These results represent a shift in the publishing industry, as many businesses now believe tablets have the potential to reignite a struggling industry. According to the AOP, 94 percent of publishers believe tablets provide the best opportunity for their digital business.

Trends toward tablet-specific media have been highlighted in recent years, as evident by the growth in digital books and news publications designed for the mobile devices. One notable example is the Daily, a tablet-exclusive newspaper that launched in early 2011.

The tablet's impact on the publishing industry is also highlighted by an August 2011 study from forest industry analyst firm RISI, which predicted that by 2015, the amount of paper used to publish magazines, newspapers and books in North America will drop by 20 percent -- largely due to tablets.