HarperCollins gets mega boost from e-books
MURDOCH-owned publishing house HarperCollins saw revenues reach a three-year high in its UK division last year.
Sales of digital books grew seven-fold as tablets and e-readers invaded the market, driving turnover up 4.7 per cent to £254m in the year to June 2011. HarperCollins, which publishes classic British authors including JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis and Agatha Christie, more than doubled its operating profit but saw pre-tax profits halve to £14m.
The publisher named Peter Mandelson’s memoir The Third Man as one of its biggest sellers, alongside the five novels in the book series behind cult TV show Game of Thrones.
HarperCollins UK publishes around 1,000 books a year.