March 26, 2010. In June this year, the London Times will be the first UK newspaper to charge for access to it’s online edition. Two new sites for the weekday and Sunday edition will charge £1 for daily access and £2 for weekly access following a trial period.
So what’s the big deal?
Firstly, the timing is interesting. The UK is still in the grips of a recession and there will remain lot’s of free alternatives for all but the most loyal readers. But the most important implication of this move is the gap between the newspaper’s need to fund the cost of developing good content and the entrenched attitude of readers used to the ‘free’ culture of the internet.
Clearly the Times, like many newspapers, is under financial pressure but this is also a brave move by them in the name of value and choice. Like it or not, fees are an effective tool for getting us to think about what is important and what’s not.
Personally, I think it’s going to be a hard sell but if they can stand their ground and develop value-added interactive content they could soon see criticism turn into a model for competitors to follow.
On the one hand, it’s just a few pounds. On the other it’s a turning point which will be closely watched for it’s implications for other industries.
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See the story on the BBC web site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8588432.stm
Filed under: Industry insight
