News Website Subscriptions

[Ksyrup]

I know the majority of sites don't do this, but I was wondering if there is (or is going to be, out of necessity) a trend for even local news websites to start charging for access.

Reason I am curious is that tallahassee.com has (for about 2-3 months, I think) started requiring a $10/mo or $2 day pass subscription to view content. As an FSU fan and former Tally resident in Lexington, I'd llike to keep up on local news and sports info. But there's no freaking way I'm paying for access to articles. Also, at least right now, I can access quite a bit of the "locked" content from my mobile phone with no problem. But it still sucks.

Has anyone else seen this with a local paper/TV station? Are they ahead of the curve, or just trying something desperate to make money?

[Swaggs]

I'd say that they are well behind the curve.

My miniscule, horrendous home town paper (the Dominion Post) has been doing it for 4-5 years now. I think that there is a flat, yearly fee that you can pay if you have a subscription.

My in-laws got it for me, as a gift, several years ago when we lived in another state and either they are still paying it or the paper never ended our account.

There are still some things like headlines, front page, and classifieds that you can still read for free, I believe.

I know the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, while not going entirely a paysite, did opt for a sports insider package that requires a monthly/yearly fee. I think they started it last Summer.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Boston.com is moving a lot of stuff behind the wall sometime soon.

[Ksyrup]

Huh.

I don't spend much time on local sites, so I had no idea this was going on. It isn't happening here - yet, anyway.

[Izulde]

I heard one of my professors the other day suggest that eventually what's going to happen is newspapers and magazines are going to be bundled together in online editions that you'll pay monthly subscription fees for, similar to cable packages now.

This increasing pay for content trend of local newspapers, which I suspect will eventually replace the physical paper, is the first step in that process if it does happen.

[Ksyrup]

It makes sense, but you wonder if, like music, they're waiting too long to make it the standard and allowing people to get too used to having everything for free.

Plus, I think it would be funny to see Napster-like services for subscription news articles pop up. "Hey, anyone got the latest Albuquerque Tuesday local section? I ain't payin' fer that shit!"

[Tim Tellean]

As long as the paper can't make enough money to survive in print they will be forced to the online pay model.
I think most right now are trying the tiered method of payment and content with a few as all pay for content.