Murdoch continues payment strategy despite loss of readership
Rupert Murdoch's media group News Corp. is continuing its Internet payment strategy undeterred despite significant losses in readership.
After its London flagship The Times and its Sunday edition Sunday Times, the Sunday tabloid News of the World will also only release its internet content for a fee from October. This was reported by the Financial Times on Thursday, according to SDA, citing company circles. The mass-circulation paper The Sun is to follow shortly afterwards.
The Times closed its internet portal to non-paying readers in July. Access is currently still offered at a starting price of one pound (1.62 francs) per month, but in future it will cost one pound per day and two pounds per week.
Major loss of readership expected
The move had cost the Online Times at least 1.2 million readers. However, 1.6 million readers were still registered. The company had expected a greater loss of readers. The Group had already announced that the tabloids on the Internet would also become fee-based, but had not yet given a date.
Murdoch's payment strategy is being watched with suspicious eyes in the media industry worldwide. The question of how newspapers and magazines can earn money on the Internet is one of the most pressing in the media industry and is considered vital for the future of the daily newspaper medium.
The Times closed its internet portal to non-paying readers in July. Access is currently still offered at a starting price of one pound (1.62 francs) per month, but in future it will cost one pound per day and two pounds per week.
Major loss of readership expected
The move had cost the Online Times at least 1.2 million readers. However, 1.6 million readers were still registered. The company had expected a greater loss of readers. The Group had already announced that the tabloids on the Internet would also become fee-based, but had not yet given a date.
Murdoch's payment strategy is being watched with suspicious eyes in the media industry worldwide. The question of how newspapers and magazines can earn money on the Internet is one of the most pressing in the media industry and is considered vital for the future of the daily newspaper medium.
