eBooks Have "Arrived" According to Aptara-PW's Annual eBook Survey of Publishers

Reformating a series of related bullet points published under the "eBooks Have 'Arrived'" heading in Aptara-PW's Revealing the Business of eBooks, 2009-2012: Fourth Annual eBook Survey of Publishers (2012):

Even with pricing models in limbo (and in court), publishers are finally making real money from eBooks, confirming the legitimacy and potential of the eBook business. 36% of eBook publishers are realizing double-digit annual eBook revenues, an astonishing 100% increase (in publishers) since last year’s survey. Since the early days of eBooks, the double-digit revenue threshold has been regarded as the indicator of eBooks’ “arrival”.

When asked what were the greatest challenges publishers faced, "bringing e-books to market, device and format issues (61%), distribution issues (35%), and quality of converted content (29%) all came out ahead of digital rights management (22%)," quoting Digital Book World's Third of E-Book Publishers Now Seeing Double-Digit Digital Revenue. See also Jim Milliot's Aptara Survey Finds 40% of Trade Houses with E-book Sales Over 10% of Revenue on Publishers Weekly (note some questions about the findings in the comments trail).

A copy of the report can be downloaded here. (Free registration required). [JH]