2011 NIV Bible Update Released In Digital Format For Christmas

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Zondervan, the world's leading Bible publisher, today launched the first product featuring the updated New International Version of the Bible (NIV) – a digital eBook of the bestselling NIV Bible (www.TheNIVBible.com).  The digital release marks the first time that a new Bible translation has launched in a digital format prior to publication in a print format.  Print products featuring the updated NIV – the world's most read modern English Bible with more than 400 million copies in print – are scheduled for release in March 2011.

"With the updated NIV complete and consumers enthusiastically awaiting its arrival, we wanted to make it available as soon as possible," said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan. "Launching in a digital format and spreading God's Word through a one-for-one Bible giveaway follows the heritage of the NIV – to reach more people with God's Word by translating in the language that ordinary people can understand."

As part of the NIV eBook release, Zondervan launched a Christmas BUY ONE, GIVE ONE campaign.  For every digital copy of the updated NIV Bible sold through Jan. 4, 2011, Zondervan will donate a New Testament of a new NIV-like Hindi translation through Biblica, the worldwide publisher and translation sponsor of the NIV Bible and a global Bible and publishing ministry.  Zondervan and Biblica hope to donate 30,000 copies of the all-new Hindi translation of the New Testament.  

"There are more than 600 million people who speak Hindi, and Biblica is launching an NIV-like Bible translation in this native language so that God's Word could be easily understood by average Hindi-speakers," said Keith Danby, international CEO of Biblica.  "In the tradition of evangelism that defines the history of the NIV, our goal is to donate 30,000 Bibles to India and in turn bring the true message of Christmas to people who have yet to hear it."

The new NIV eBook Bible is completely re-designed for an intuitive user experience.  The font is crisp and clear and readability is maximized for both E-Ink® and color screens.  In addition the new NIV eBook Bible features quicker page turns and a numbered footnoting system that allows readers to easily jump from Bible text to footnote and back again.  

The NIV update was completed in the fall of 2010 after years of rigorous translation work by the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT).  (www.NIV-CBT.org)  The CBT was formed in 1965 to create a modern English Bible translation from the oldest and best-attested biblical manuscripts.  Since the most recent NIV update in 1984, the CBT has continued to meet every year in accordance with the NIV charter, which requires constant monitoring of developments in biblical scholarship and English usage and the reflection of these developments in periodic updates to the text.  The members of CBT, drawn from various denominations and from some of the finest academic institutions in the world, solicited and received input from scholars, pastors, missionaries and lay persons and reviewed every proposal, many of which led to revisions to the text.

"The NIV Bible is the best-selling modern English Bible eBook and consistently among the top eBooks in all of publishing," said Chip Brown, senior vice president and publisher for Bibles.  "We can't wait to get the updated NIV in the hands of readers and to see how both serious scholars and everyday Bible consumers interact with the updated text and the newly improved elements in the eBook."

The NIV Bible is consistently among the top sellers in the Religion and Spirituality eBooks wherever eBooks are sold.  The Bible is the bestselling book in history and the NIV Bible is the bestselling version year after year, selling more than 400 million copies since its first full publication in 1978.  Following the launch of the newly designed NIV eBook, Zondervan plans to continue to release several new NIV eBooks, apps and digital products by the end of 2011.

Zondervan was the first publisher to have Bibles available in Apple's iBookstore at the launch of the iPad.  In total, the company has published more than 30 Bible titles for eBook readers, including the iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, etc.  The NIV Study Bible consistently ranks among Zondervan's top digital products.

Two years ago, the publishing industry reported sales of eBooks constituted approximately one percent of total book sales, with the figure for 2010 now closer to 10 percent.  eBook Bibles now represent nearly 25 percent of Zondervan's eBook revenues, and digital products are frequently outselling some traditional hardcover Bible products.

About Zondervan Bibles

Zondervan is the world's leading Bible publisher. With a vision to see more people engaging the Bible more, Zondervan offers bestselling study, devotional, reference, text, audio, software, and digital Bibles designed to inspire readers at every age and each stage of life. Zondervan holds exclusive North American publishing rights to the New International Version (NIV). The most popular modern English translation of the Bible, the NIV has more than 400 million copies in print worldwide.  Zondervan also publishes Bibles in the KJV (King James Version), NIrV (New International Readers Version), NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), NASB (New American Standard Bible), the Amplified Bible, and parallel Bibles featuring The Message. During the past 75 years, Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, has grown to be a global leader in Christian communications through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, children's, and new media products. Visit Zondervan Bibles on the Internet at www.zondervan.com/Bibles.

About Biblica

Celebrating more than 200 years in ministry, Biblica provides God's Word to people through translation, publishing, and Bible engagement. Biblica's ministry extends worldwide, with outreach in 55 countries. Biblica has translated the Bible in more than 100 languages and is the translation sponsor and ministry publisher of the New International Version® (NIV®) of the Bible, the most widely read and trusted contemporary English translation. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ. For more information, visit Biblica.com.

SOURCE Zondervan