New York Times to Start Charging for Online Content in 2011
The New York Times has announced that it will begin charging for online content in 2011 -- perhaps, in so doing, beginning the end of the free ride we've all enjoyed so much. The new business model will still allow you to read a certain number of articles for free, but, once you reach the quota of free monthly articles, you'll be charged to access additional content. Subscribers to the print edition of the Times will continue to have free unlimited access to the site.
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman of The New York Times Company, said in a statement, "Our audiences are very loyal and we believe that our readers will pay for our award-winning digital content and services." That remains to be seen, but if any newspaper can successfully charge readers for Web-based news, it's the New York Times.
Specifics, such as what the monthly cap will be, and how much additional articles will cost, remain to be seen. If both numbers are reasonable (say, 15 to 30 free articles per month, and each additional article at $0.25), it should have little impact on the site's traffic, and could potentially show other newspapers how to weather the digital storm. [From: New York Times]
Comments
3
Subscribe to comments(Unverified)Jan 20th 2010 6:16PM
Audiences are very loyal until they have to pay.
(Unverified)Jan 20th 2010 9:04PM
Are you nuts,no way I'll pay,there are many places to get our news.Let the folks who have the bucks and want to keep up with you pay.
Shame on you...............................................
(Unverified)Jan 21st 2010 1:14AM
you must be crazy to even think of this business model, there are lot of other news sites which will be available for free!!!