An increasing number of newspapers are introducing payment for online content. Starting in June, readers will have to pay one pound for daily access or two pounds for a weekly subscription to both the Times and Sunday Times websites, reports the British newspaper The Guardian.
As announced by the parent publishing company News International, The Sun and News of the World will soon follow suit. The first two editions to start charging for content will launch redesigned and improved websites in early May when a trial period for registered users begins. Users can register starting this Friday at timesplus.co.uk. The Times and Sunday Times are the first British newspapers to begin charging for their content. While daily payment will allow access to the websites of these newspapers, the weekly subscription will also include e-newspapers and new applications. The digital version will also be available to weekly subscribers of the print edition.
– This is just the beginning. The Times and Sunday Times are the first of our four titles in the UK to adopt this new approach – said Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News International. – These new sites and applications will provide our readers with a new, enhanced experience and will fully reflect the identity of our newspapers. We expect to attract a large loyal base of our readers. According to the latest ABC figures, Times Online, which combines the Times and Sunday Times, increased its daily visitors by six percent to 1.22 million. Assuming that only five percent of daily users switch to daily payment, which is standard in estimates, the new system will generate £1.83 million in revenue. In August of last year, Rupert Murdoch announced that he would introduce charging for the online editions of all newspapers published by News Corp. He stated that he would keep his readers from going to free sites by making the content different and better than what the competition offers. (Kristina Kardum)
