02 July 2010 | Author: D. Warburton Search Copywriter

Times websites now charging for news access

Rupert Murdoch's plans to charge for online news content come to fruition today, as readers of the Times and Sunday Times will now be charged to access content from their respective websites.

News International, the UK subsidiary of Murdoch's News Corporation, announced its plans to charge users for access earlier this year, in response to falling readership and advertising revenue.

As online advertising continues to overtake the print industry, it remains to be seen whether users will pay for content from favoured publishers, or opt for free alternatives, such as those aggregated by Google News.

The Times is charging readers £1 for a day's access to its websites, or £2 for a week's subscription. BBC News reports that the publisher has launched an introductory offer allowing subscribers one month's access for just £1, to encourage uptake at this vital early stage.

Since introducing its subscription paywall last month in anticipation of the charges, the Times saw readership fall by 60 per cent, and expects to see a further drop in readership brought about by the charges.

However, News International is optimistic about the scheme, believing that its charges are low enough to avoid deterring readers - and the rest of the UK's print industry will be keeping a keen eye on its progress.

"We have been very pleased with the response from readers since the launch," said News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

"We believe the new sites offer real value and we look forward to continuing to invest and innovate for our readers."

Experian Hitwise analyst Robin Goad conceded that the fall in traffic to the Times websites caused by the initial introduction of a subscription feature was "less of a drop than a lot of people expected", and called it "quite a positive" figure.

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