Here’s more proof that e-books are gaining greater prominence and respectability. Media Control GfK International, a market research company based in Baden-Baden, Germany, has launched Germany’s first authoritative e-book bestseller lists. According to “Börsenblatt,” Media Control will collect sales data reported by online bookstores and publishers. The reported sales cover an astonishing 40% of Germany’s e-book market. “Börsenblatt” will be one of the publications featuring these lists on a monthly basis with a delay of about 6 weeks.
E-books still represent a fairly small percentage of the book market in Germany – just 5.4% of publishers’ revenues based on a questionnaire answered by 437 publishing professionals in January 2011 and published in the study The Global eBook Market: Current Conditions & Future Projections.
As in many cases, however, the primary issue with consumers is finding the right device. But, there’s also the lack of convenience with regards to digital rights management (DRM), installation procedures and the lack of standardized processes. Pricing is another big concern; the discrepancy between the tax customers pay for printed books is 7% vs. 19% e-books. But, the availability of titles has been increasing. “Börsenblatt” notes that consumers can now find 80-90% of print bestsellers in e-book format. The challenges the still-fledgling e-book market faces are the same encountered by other similar technological advances, such as the CD player and personal computer. It’s just a matter of time before prices will lower, equipment will become standardized and people will adjust.
Chief Writing Wolf 