Re: NYTimes starts charges for digital content

 
From: "Weebit" 
<snip>
> It doesn't matter how good the price looks.  The past has shown all those
> that went to pay reverted back to free.  Their web visits went belly up
> going to pay. It seems I read somewhere that the NYT was allowing visitors
> to read so many articles per month.  I am not sure how much this will work
> out for them.  Time will tell.   175 bucks a year is a bit much in todays
> economy.

Isn't this a matter of content value and purpose, or policy? The FT and WSJ, for example, charge - and have long charged. Both allow some free viewing as well. But visitor numbers are not income, and income is necessary for any business; even for any person to live in the modern world.

Thus sheer number has a value if, either direct purchases result, or commission comes from the advertising inducement to buy from others. For direct purchase targetting is far more productive and less costly in site costs, maintenance and bandwidth. Commission depends on a buoyant market. This latter is losing its buoyancy.

Our own BBC is paid for by a unique direct licence system, and its further money making activities are regularly criticised. It is, perhaps, the only body in the world whose policy can include a completely free website. There was a belief that every site would be a Billboard - with commission. The severe drying out of the economy, which is just beginning, will prove that view intemittent.

I confidently predict that the NYT will not revert to free; at least not for a decade or two. And it is allowing 20 free viewings a month, more or less the new newspaper standard.

Joseph


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