NEW YORK TIMES ONLINE Readers To See Charges In 2011
Back of mounting financial pressure and the ongoing US recession coupled with declining advertising the New York Times recently announced it would charge its online readership starting in 2011. While we'd like to think that age old saying 'the best things in life are free', unfortunately it doesn't always play out this way.
While those who subscribe to the print version of the newspaper they will have free internet access to content, internet visitors though will work on a metered version that has limited free access and once that is exceeded, then charges apply. Oddly enough its following the often web pioneering porn industry in giving away just a little free content and then hooking in with a paid model.
With the online version registering over 15 million unique visitors monthly, many eyes are viewing the move from the newspaper and magazine trade to see if viable numbers can be maintained.