On 6 November, Alistair Wood and Ellie Holden represented ESco at the ACE Subscriptions Day 2026, held at the Financial Times’ Bracken House in London.
Hosted by Abi Spooner, with HH&S Subs as main sponsor and FT Strategies as event partner, the seminar brought together publishing and subscription professionals to discuss audience growth, reader revenue, AI-driven lifecycle management and the upcoming DMCCA subscription rules.
A key message throughout the day was that sustainable subscription growth depends on more than attracting new subscribers. Speakers from Reach, Sky News, Broadsheet Media and the Financial Times highlighted the importance of building habits, earning trust and understanding what audiences value.
Reach shared how it achieved massive subscriber growth in one year through rapid launches, continuous testing and a shift towards measuring engaged time and net new subscribers rather than page views alone. It’s a useful reminder that long-term subscriber relationships are built on consistently delivering value, not simply getting people through the paywall.
The forthcoming DMCCA subscription rules, due to take effect in January 2027, were another important topic. The Guardian encouraged publishers to take a flexible, modular approach to compliance rather than waiting for final guidance, using the changes as an opportunity to improve the customer experience.
This reflects ESco’s own approach as we work with clients to prepare their subscription journeys and processes for the new requirements.
Beyond the presentations, the seminar provided a valuable opportunity for Alistair and Ellie to catch up with clients, partners and industry colleagues, sharing experiences and discussing the challenges publishers are facing.
Thank you to Abi Spooner and the ACE team for another insightful event. We look forward to continuing these conversations with our clients.
