News of the World to charge for online content from October
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News International has officially announced that it will charge for News of the World digital content from October.
As new media age revealed last month, News International is to relaunch notw.co.uk, charging readers £1 per day access or a four-week subscription for £1.99.
An iPad app is to follow at a separate weekly charge of £1.19.
The website will hinge on exclusive video and photographic content, with new software providing “a slick and exciting web-friendly experience,” according to a statement released by News International this morning.
News of the World’s companion magazine, Fabulous, will also relaunch its website www.fabulousmag.co.uk, featuring enhanced content from its print version. Access to this site will be included in notw.co.uk subscription prices.
Rebekah Brooks, News International CEO said: “The News of the World website will be the third of our titles to launch a paid-for digital proposition in under four months. News International is leading the industry by delivering on its commitment to develop new ways of making the business of news an economically exciting proposition.”
Colin Myler, editor of the News of the World, said: “This is a very significant moment in the history of the News of the World. The paid site makes the most of our heritage, presenting our unique content with a real focus on exclusive video and pictures.
“Our new digital sites and apps will showcase our agenda-setting stories, celebrity exclusives and world-class investigative journalism, plus our unrivalled sports coverage, to give our audience unbeatable value.”
Registered customers will be given an introductory offer at launch.
This story first appeared on newmediaage.co.uk
YouGov Insight:
Newspapers
- The majority of UK consumers are unlikely to pay for online newspaper content, with 83% saying they would refuse to pay.
- 60% of UK adults think that it is worth paying for a ’good newspaper’.
- 1 in 5 YouGov respondents are prepared to forgo paying for newspapers altogether, agreeing with the statement ’why pay when I can get one for free’.
- Nearly half (44%) of UK consumers prefer paying for a newspaper because ’the free ones haven’t got as much real content.
- 38% of respondents believe that newspapers are currently too expensive.
Click here for more information on this YouGov market report
Readers' comments (1)
Chris Measures | Mon, 20 Sep 2010 4:35 pm
Whatever you think of the News of the World, the content is certainly compelling to a lot of people, meaning the paywall might well work. More on this at my blog http://measuresconsulting.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/will-a-paywall-pay-for-news-of-the-world/
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