Byliner partners with Public Radio International® to create enhanced ebooks of award-winning shows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, January 16, 2014— Byliner, digital publisher of award-winning short fiction and nonfiction,  is pleased to announce a partnership with Public Radio International (PRI) to create enhanced ebooks  from select award-winning radio programs.  In this unique publishing and broadcast relationship, Byliner will create an enhanced experience that will combine radio narrative, text transcript from the original episode, additional research and audio elements, and other multimedia assets to create a new way of experiencing stories while providing a lasting library for old and new fans.

The first titles to be released in this partnership will be from the “American Icons” series produced by “Studio 360®” and released over the next several months.  The first three titles—Moby Dick, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, and The Disney Parks—will be released early next month.

“PRI is delighted to partner with Byliner in turning an exceptional radio series into an exceptional multimedia experience.  The timelessness of Studio 360’s American Icons series deserve a place on everyone’s digital ‘shelf’ to be read, viewed and listened to time and again,” said Melinda Ward, Chief Content Officer for PRI.

Through this partnership, Byliner and PRI will also identify future opportunities to bring PRI radio content to life through enhanced ebooks.

“We are excited to be working with PRI to bring their popular shows to a new audience through enhanced ebooks.  Our partnership shows a new way that Byliner is able to use emerging technologies to provide a creative palette for writers and bring all types of creative expression from writing to radio to film into the ebook space,” said Deanna Brown, President, Byliner.

Byliner subscribers will get a text-only edition of these stories as part of their subscription service and have an opportunity to purchase the enhanced titles from a retailer at $3.99.

About PRI: At Public Radio International, we believe sharing powerful stories, encouraging exploration, and connecting people and cultures will effect positive change in the world. By building a deeper awareness and understanding of the world's peoples, conditions, issues and events, we enable others to form their own opinions, share their knowledge and creativity, and take informed actions on issues that matter to them.

Partnering with public media's most talented producers and hosts, we offer distinctly global voices on “PRI's The World®" and CBC shows like "As it Happens" and "Q with Jian Ghomeshi." We cultivate conversations representing diverse viewpoints on “The Takeaway,” “To the Point,” and "The Tavis Smiley Show." We present voices of culture, contemporary American life and artistry on "This American Life" and "Studio 360® from PRI and WNYC." And we provide decidedly fresh takes with "WireTap" and “The Tobolowsky Files.”

Public Radio International's mission is to serve audiences as a distinctive content source for information, insights and cultural experiences essential to living in our diverse, interconnected world.

About Byliner: Byliner is a subscription reading service and digital publisher of award-winning short fiction and nonfiction. Named "One of the 10 Most Innovative Media Companies in the World" (Fast Company), Byliner works directly with the world's best authors to deliver great stories to readers. Subscribers get unlimited access to premium content from Byliner's by-invitation community of writers, including thousands of rarely-seen or exclusive stories from bestselling authors like Simon Winchester, Nick Hornby, Margaret Atwood, Jon Krakauer, Ann Patchett, Chuck Pahlaniuk, Alexandra Fuller, Richard Russo, Sebastian Junger, and many more.

For More Information: Please contact Erin Cox, erin@byliner.com or 347-581-0211.

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