Find a New Paper: NY Times to Charge For Content
By Chris Weiss
Well, that was fast. Just the other day, we reported that the NY Times was considering several options for charging for online content and yesterday the paper announced a decision. The free ride will officially end early next year when the Times will begin charging for content after visitors have accessed a certain number of articles in a given month. Prior to reaching that number, content will remain free and accessible.
Earlier in the week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Times was considering this option as well as one similar to the WSJ itself, in which certain content requires a subscription.
The Times doesn’t have all the pieces together and has not addressed major questions such as how many free articles visitors will have access to or how much content will cost. However, it’s clear the company is braving a new paradigm of paid content.
It remains to be seen if the paid content strategy works in boosting revenue or backfires by sending away readers. One thing is for sure: the rest of the print industry will be watching closely. [via NY Times]
