Gourmet Live isn't just a backlog of Gourmet articles formatted for the iPad with some high-resolution photos and videos thrown in for good measure, Townsend assured press in a statement. The app will be compatible with a number of HTML5-friendly devices and incorporate many features that take it beyond the traditional magazine model. For instance, users will be able to "unlock" new content as they interact with the app and purchase premium content with a virtual currency. Gourmet Live will also utilize social sharing, geo-location and adaptive personalization technology.
"Gourmet Live is profoundly different," Townsend said. "We approached this like a tech company, utilizing the rich assets of a media company, keeping Condé Nast at the forefront of content innovation.”
Because Condé Nast already has one strong-selling food magazine, Bon Appetit, it can afford to experiment with the Gourmet brand a little. What Conde Nast may discover is a new model for delivering the premium content of its magazines.
Gourmet Live will launch in the fourth quarter of 2010. It will be free to download with registration, with paid content options available within the app. In the meantime, the company will add content to the demo site at live.gourmet.com.
What do you think of the Gourmet Live venture?
Video Demo