[LINK] iTNews

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> 
> For the past month or so the iTNews site at http://www.itnews.com.au/
> has been threatening to charge for content.

On this theme:

Are the days of the free internet over?
Tuesday 5th March 2002 3:00pm
Silicon.com
http://www.silicon.com/bin/bladerunner?30REQEVENT=&REQAUTH=21046&14001REQSUB=REQINT1=51792

Two-thirds of websites to charge for content inside 12 months...

Sixty-six per cent of interactive publishers in the UK will start charging
for online content in the near future in a bid to battle falling
advertising revenue.

The findings of a report from the Periodical Publishers Association
Interactive (PPAi), follows news that one of its key members, FT.com, will
introduce fee-based content within the year.

The survey found that online publishers were more concerned with how to
charge, rather than whether to charge, with some debate over different
types of micro-payment and SMS marketing. FT.com, the latest in a line of
UK publishers to introduce charges, is planning to charge up to £100 a year
for specialised analysis content.

Over the past year the Guardian, Sun, Telegraph and The Times websites have
all introduced varying levels of fee-based content.

In the US Yahoo, Google and the Wall Street Journal have spearheaded the
move to a subscription service.

Just 26 per cent of the PPAi members surveyed said they had no plans to
make users pay for content, while eight per cent remain undecided.

-- 
The most important service rendered by the press and the magazines is that
of educating people to approach printed matter with distrust.
-- Samuel Butler

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
brd@austarmetro.com.au