BBC Worldwide - Competitors

BBC Worldwide Competition

Now Viewing BBC Worldwide's competition in: Book Publishers

Recent Developments

Comic Book Publishers Experiment for Success - Comic book publishers are finding new ways to profit from a mix of online and traditional print material. According to industry experts, comic book publishers are the publishing industry's leaders in developing profit models that embrace the Internet and new technologies. For example, some comic books are available on mobile phones, and publishers are experimenting with other innovations, including releasing free Web content that's later printed and sold through traditional channels.

Publishing, Entertainment Industries Work for Mutual Benefit - The business model for books and entertainment is changing, as publishers and entertainment executives collaborate to share profits and ideas that benefit both. Increasingly, both industries consider licensing and product opportunities throughout the development process, increasing the likelihood that a book will become a film or video game, and vice versa. By working together, both hope to increase profits and reach a wider audience.

Digital Books Growing for Independents - Independent book publishers have struggled to keep up with the digital book revolution, which is dominated by major publishers who can easily afford the technology. Perseus Books Group's new "Constellation" service aims to change the landscape for independent publishers by giving them access to digital services, including online book previews and the ability to print books as they're ordered. These technologies could improve sales for independents.

Competitive Landscape

Demand for books is driven by demographics and is largely resistant to economic cycles. The profitability of individual companies depends on product development and marketing. Large publishers have an advantage in bidding for new manuscripts or authors. Small and midsized publishers can succeed if they focus on a specific subject or market. Because of the high value of the product, average annual revenue per employee is a high $300,000.

Full Industry Overview For Book Publishers

Book Publishers Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

The output of US book publishers is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 5.1 percent between 2008 and 2013.

Book Publishing Growth Flattens

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.