Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
... In case you didn't get the memo, free access for any news other than op-ed is not really working.
Newspapers are getting killed by low web ad rates and declining paper subscriptions. Since they can't squeeze any more money out of advertisers, the only other way to increase revenues is to get it from the readers....
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Uhm.... You've never heard of Google's First Click Free? I haven't had a subscription to the WSJ for years.
Or you've never heard that the WSJ is one of the most heavily discounted papers? Which means that I can get a year's subscription for home delivery now for $119, which is considerably less than what they plan to ask for the iPad subscription. And that includes the cost of printing and distribution!
This is for the WSJ, which is certainly a niche product (although it seems to be becoming more "popular interest" lately) and a good portion of its subscriptions are from businesses. For the rest of the papers, it will be an even harder battle to go paywall.
Plus, if I get get all these subscriptions through iTunes, what happens when I see the WeePad and decide that I like it better than the iPad? I guess when I leave the walled garden of Steve I have to pay for a regular subscription again....