Sony and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Join Forces to Create Digital Book Community on marthastewart.com

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony and the Reader™ Store by Sony are proud to announce the soon to-be-launched book club community, built around the newly created "Books I'm Reading" section on The Martha Blog, just in time for the holiday season. "Books I'm Reading" will create a first-of-its kind collaboration merging dynamic book club participation and digital reading. The new section on The Martha Blog will feature one book a month that Martha herself is reading. Fans of The Martha Blog are invited to read along and share their thoughts through Twitter. Additionally, members of Martha's Circle of bloggers, Black Eiffel, Oh Happy Day, and This Week for Dinner, will be reading along with The Martha Blog on their Sony Reader digital books and adding their insight on their personal blogs. 

On November 16, Martha will make her first "Books I'm Reading" blog post, and the author of this book will be a guest on The Martha Stewart Show on December 6. To spur the discussion that today's avid book readers crave, Sony will offer Q&As with each featured author, discussion guides and additional resources via the Reader Store by Sony Facebook fan page and Twitter handle as well as Sony.com/booksimreading, beginning on November 16.

Readers are encouraged to read each featured book, share their thoughts and engage in dialogue about the featured book using the hash tag #BooksImReading on Twitter or by participating in conversations on any of the related sites. On The Martha Blog, they can also enter a sweepstakes* for a chance to win a personalized Reader Pocket Edition™ or they can visit marthastewart.com/sony-sweeps to enter once a day for a chance to win the sweepstakes. One Reader Pocket Edition will be given away each week and winners will have their choice of color (silver or pink) and the opportunity to have their Reader personally engraved at no charge.

"We're extremely excited to launch 'Books I'm Reading' on The Martha Blog and look forward to driving lively discussion with Sony around these outstanding books in the coming months," said Sally Preston, EVP of Integrated Sales and Marketing at MSLO. "Our relationship with Sony and the Reader Store by Sony will provide excellent support for 'Books I'm Reading', including access to digital book content and platforms to drive dialogue around book selections."

"Through this collaboration, we have created the first book club with an emphasis on digital reading, empowering avid readers to engage digitally with the content and create a community around the central themes and issues of the books," said Phil Lubell, vice president of Digital Reading at Sony Electronics. "We believe that this is the tipping point for digital reading with content and community uniting in the digital sphere, and the publishing industry is witnessing an evolution in the truest sense of the word."

Lubell continued, "Our Reader line will enhance the reading experience of 'Books I'm Reading' followers, as the full touch screen mirrors the natural reading experience. We've heard overwhelmingly from customers that it's how we interact with a book that counts, and Sony is dedicated to providing digital readers and access to content that raise the bar for the industry, creating the ideal experience."

Sony launched its beautifully designed new line of Reader digital books in September, including the new Reader Pocket Edition™, Reader Touch Edition™ and, in the US, the wireless Reader Daily Edition™.  The new line of Reader digital books features a host of new design and technology enhancements that make them the perfect device for any reader's lifestyle. The new Reader models bring a fresh level of flare to e-reading with colorful, elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive full touch screens designed specifically for digital reading. The new, first-to-market technology improves response time and increases reading clarity, creating a natural, immersive reading experience.    

*No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes begins on 11/1/10 and ends on 3/15/11. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules at marthastewart.com/Sony-Sweeps

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) is a diversified media and merchandising company, inspiring and engaging consumers with unique lifestyle content and distinctive products. The Publishing segment encompasses four magazines, including the company's flagship publication, Martha Stewart Living, periodic special issues and books. The marthastewart.com website provides consumers with instant access to MSLO's multimedia library, search and find capabilities, recipes, online workshops, community and personalization, as well as wedding-planning tools powered by WeddingWire and digital invitations with pingg.com. The Broadcasting segment produces the Emmy-winning, daily television series, "The Martha Stewart Show," and other original programming on Hallmark Channel, including "Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn" and "Whatever with Alexis & Jennifer." Broadcasting also encompasses Martha Stewart Living Radio on SIRIUS channel 112 and XM Radio 157. In addition to its media properties, MSLO offers high-quality Martha Stewart products through licensing agreements with carefully selected companies, including the Martha Stewart Collection exclusively at Macy's, the Martha Stewart Living line of home-improvement products at The Home Depot, Martha Stewart Crafts with EK Success at Michaels and independent retailers, the Martha Stewart Pets line at PetSmart and more. In 2008, Emeril Lagasse joined the Martha Stewart family of brands; MSLO acquired the assets related to Lagasse's media and merchandising business, including television programming, cookbooks, and emerils.com website and his licensed kitchen and food products. For additional information about MSLO, visit www.marthastewart.com. 

SOURCE Sony Electronics