Hachette Digital, formerly Hachette Audio, is the imprint responsible for publishing in electronic formats. The change of name from January 2008 reflects the widening nature of our digital operations.

Audiobook publishing has historically been an area of great strength for Little, Brown: our titles have been acclaimed for the quality of adaptation, readers and packaging. We’re proud that, from 2008, Hachette Digital’s audiobook programme will also include titles from Headline and John Murray, our sister companies within the Hachette Livre UK group.

The other element of our audiobook publishing is the growing number of titles available as digital downloads through partners such as Audible and iTunes Music Store.

We have had an e-book publishing programme for more than five years, but 2008 will see our biggest opportunities yet, as developments in the market offer the real possibility of consumer demand for e-books. We are currently implementing a major programme of digitisation, across both front and backlist titles, so that we are ready to meet this demand.

The one certainty in digital publishing is that no one knows with any certainty how the market will develop. Our strategy is to be ready for whatever opportunities present themselves for publishing, marketing and selling books in this arena, and we are determined that the high standards and commercial success that Little, Brown and its authors enjoy in printed and physical formats are replicated in the digital space.