The Shift from Print to Digital Media and the Long-Term Decline of the Publishing Business
First written in FY2017. 11 of 15 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2018. Latest entry: FY2025.
Shobunsha Holdings moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2018, 2 years before the typical company in this theme (2020).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2020: 13 of 25 companies on the "Worse" side.
0 other companies' latest entry also says "Reframed".
- FY2025ReframedAnnual report
「We have recognized that, in this era, information alone already has limited value, and that the key challenge is how to provide added value together with information, and have taken steps accordingly.」
Against the backdrop of the shift from print to electronic media and the spread of free information, the company has shifted its focus from simply providing information to providing added value by combining proprietary information, brands, services and solutions. - FY2023-Q2ReframedAnnual report
「In Japan, the country entered its first major holiday and summer vacation season in 3 years without restrictions on movement. In addition, demand stimulus measures by local governments known as the “Residents’ Travel Discount” program provided support, strongly stimulating consumer activity related to travel and outings. Retail publications also saw a recovery in demand, with some copies of the standard travel magazine Mapple Magazine (domestic editions) becoming in short supply.」
Against the previous structural view of a long-term decline in print media and retail publications, the description changed to reflect a recovery in demand and shortages of domestic travel-related publications following the lifting of movement restrictions and the introduction of demand stimulus measures. - FY2022WorsenedAnnual report
「In recent years, the mainstream method of providing information has shifted from conventional print media to electronic media, making it possible to provide many users with a large volume of diverse information in real time. As a result, the business environment has made it increasingly difficult to maintain and continue the existing business model unchanged.」
The company states that the shift from print to electronic media and the spread of free information have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the conventional business model. - FY2022-Q2ReframedAnnual report
「Although the period as a whole exceeded the previous year, conditions remain extremely difficult compared with pre-pandemic levels.」
While retail publications recovered from the decline caused by the state of emergency in the previous corresponding period, they have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and the description has shifted to reflect the combined effects of the long-term publishing downturn, the spread of free information and the infectious disease. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「As consumption related to travel and outings contracted sharply due to the spread of COVID-19, actual sales of the group's core publications declined substantially, particularly travel-related products for overseas destinations, and sales activities for retail publications were also restricted.」
In addition to the long-term decline caused by the publishing downturn and the spread of free information, the infectious disease substantially weakened actual sales of overseas travel-related products and sales activities for retail publications. - FY2021-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「As consumption related to travel and outings contracted sharply due to the spread of an infectious disease, actual sales of the group's core publications declined substantially, particularly travel-related products for overseas destinations, and sales activities for retail publications were also restricted.」
In addition to the effects of the longstanding publishing downturn and the spread of free information, the infectious disease further weakened actual sales of overseas travel-related publications and sales activities for retail publications. - FY2021-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「During the six-month period ended the second quarter, consumption related to travel and outings contracted sharply due to the spread of an infectious disease. Actual sales of the group's core publications declined substantially, particularly travel-related products for overseas destinations, and sales activities for retail publications were also restricted.」
In addition to the long-term decline of print and publishing, the infectious disease further weakened consumption related to travel and outings, actual sales of overseas travel-related publications and sales activities. - FY2021-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「As consumption related to travel and outings contracted sharply after a state of emergency was declared from April through the end of May due to the spread of an infectious disease, actual sales of the group's core retail publications were particularly affected.」
In addition to the long-term decline in revenue caused by the publishing downturn and smartphone apps, consumption related to travel and outings and actual sales of retail publications fell sharply due to the novel coronavirus disease and the state of emergency. - FY2020-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「However, due to the prolonged publishing downturn and the growing impact of smartphone apps, sales fell short of the previous year in every category, including maps, practical books, magazines and guidebooks. Sales of retail publications as a whole declined by ¥506 million from the six-month period ended the third quarter of the previous fiscal year to ¥3,397 million.」
Due to the prolonged publishing downturn and the impact of smartphone apps, sales fell below the previous year in all categories, including maps, practical books, magazines and guidebooks, while retail publication sales declined by ¥506 million year on year. - FY2020-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「To halt the continued decline in revenue caused by the prolonged publishing downturn and the spread of free information through web services and smartphone apps,」
The company recognizes that revenue has continued to decline due to the prolonged publishing downturn and the spread of free information through web services and smartphone apps. - FY2020-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「To halt the continued decline in revenue caused by the prolonged publishing downturn and the spread of free information through web services and smartphone apps, the company is introducing products and services based on a value-added strategy tailored to map and travel information, including new-planning value, brand value, customization and solution value, peace-of-mind and safety value, and real-world service value.」
The company states that revenue has continued to decline due to the publishing downturn and the spread of free information through web services and smartphone apps, and that it is pursuing a value-added strategy in response. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「In recent years, the group's core businesses have been significantly affected not only in its conventional core publishing business but also in its electronic business, which provides digital data products and system products, by the spread of electronic information media such as smartphone apps and the internet, as well as the rapid rise of free information services provided on such electronic platforms and consumer-to-consumer information exchange services typified by social networking services. Performance has continued to deteriorate amid this difficult business environment.」
The company states that, in addition to the publishing business, the electronic business has also been affected by free information services and social networking services, and that performance in its core businesses has continued to deteriorate. - FY2019-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the group's core publishing and electronic businesses, performance has continued to deteriorate amid a difficult business environment due to the prolonged downturn in publishing and the impact of free navigation apps.」
The company states that performance in its core publishing and electronic businesses has continued to deteriorate as the publishing downturn has become prolonged and the impact of free navigation apps has been added. - FY2018WorsenedAnnual report
「In recent years, the group's conventional core publishing business has seen a long-term decline in sales due to the spread of electronic information media, including smartphone apps and the internet, and its performance has continued to struggle amid a difficult business environment.」
The company explicitly states that publishing revenue has been on a long-term downward trend amid the structural shift from print to electronic media and that the difficult operating environment has continued. - FY2017First statedAnnual report
「In recent years, the medium used to provide information has shifted from conventional print media to electronic media, making it possible to provide many users with a wide variety of information in large volumes.」
The company describes the shift from print to electronic media as a structural change in its business environment.