The Daily was News Corp's bold bet on the future of news: a daily newspaper designed exclusively for the iPad, with interactive graphics, video, and 360-degree photos. Rupert Murdoch personally championed the project, investing over $30 million. Apple featured it prominently. At launch, it had 100 journalists and a custom newsroom in New York.
Company Data
- Launched: February 2011 — News Corp
- Investment: $30+ million
- Failed: December 2012 (22 months)
The Daily never found an audience. At its peak, it had about 100,000 subscribers, far below the 500,000 needed for breakeven. The iPad-only format meant it couldn't be shared on social media or read on phones or computers. The content, while polished, wasn't differentiated enough from free news sources. News Corp pulled the plug after less than 2 years, laying off all staff.
Key Lesson
Platform exclusivity limits audience. An iPad-only publication in 2011 eliminated sharing, search, and mobile access. Content must go where users are—not require them to come to you on a specific device.