The Times charging for online content
The Times is now charging for access to its online content. News International has announced that The Times and The Sunday Times new websites went live yesterday. There is an initial free trial period of one month for registered users, who will see a host of new digital features to enhance coverage and encourage interactivity. The launch of the newly-designed sites, which will replace the combined Times Online, marks the first time that each title has had a dedicated online presence.
The sites can be viewed at www.thetimes.co.uk and www.thesundaytimes.co.uk respectively. From June, a charge of £1 for a day or £2 for a week will give customers access to both sites. Access to the digital services will also be included in the seven-day subscriptions of print customers to The Times and The Sunday Times.
We will closely monitor the performance of the site traffic and keep you posted as to the implications of this move by The Times. One assumes that where Rupert Murdoch goes, other papers may follow, but nothing is set in stone as social media, user-generated content and free content. The FT reported that the paywall on the new Times website may deter 90% of Times online readers
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f99bac0-685d-11df-a52f-00144feab49a.html - but they would say that, wouldn’t they!