Apple had announced it signed an
agreement to acquire Texture, the digital magazine subscription service by Next
Issue Media LLC, which gives users unlimited access to their favorite titles
for one monthly subscription fee.
Texture brings over 200 of the
world’s best magazines to life, providing an easy way for users to read
high-quality stories and entire issues of their favorite titles. With Texture,
users enjoy the magazines they know and love, while discovering new content
that fits their passions and interests.
Texture is owned by a consortium of
big publishers, as well as private equity firm KKR, which put $50 million into
the company in 2015. Texture was
first assembled in 2009 and launched in
2012 as Next Issue Media. It was an attempt for big publishers
to own their own version of Netflix or Hulu, and give them control of digital
distribution instead of being cut out by Apple or Google. It eventually
rebranded the service and de-emphasized the concept of magazines. Instead, it
pushed the idea that your $10-a-month subscription gets you access to the
world’s best articles, curated based on your particular interests.
Since its launch in 2010, Texture
has become the leading multi-title subscription service giving users the
ability to instantly access some of the most widely read magazines while on the
go. In 2016, Texture was chosen by the App Store editorial team for the annual
Best Of selections, which celebrate the most innovative apps and games for iOS
users.
