Fri 26th of March, filed under SEO
News International lays paywall foundations
News International has finally outlined how it plans to implement a groundbreaking new paywall, which will kick in this summer.
The media giant has announced that users will be required to pay £1 – the same price as a weekday print edition – for a day's access to the websites of the Times and the Sunday Times. Alternatively, they can pay £2 to get a week's subscription as well as further benefits like e-paper and new apps. Existing print subscribers will also be able to access the digital services.
Times paywall coming in June 2010
Several measures are planned to smooth the transition before the UK's first national newspaper paywall goes up in June 2010. From today, for example, readers are being encouraged to register their interest in subscribing at TimesPlus.co.uk. And in May, the current Times Online site will be replaced by separate portals for the Times and the Sunday Times.
In a statement, Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, suggested that papers like the Sun and the News of the World would also follow suit. She said: "This is just the start. The Times and the Sunday Times are the first of our four titles in the UK to move to this new approach. These new sites, and the apps that will enhance the experience, reflect the identity of our titles and deliver a terrific experience for readers."
News International's implementation of the paywall is under close scrutiny amid concerns that a sharp drop in online traffic will seriously hinder SEO performance. Offline, the Times is the UK's second most popular quality daily newspaper while the Sunday Times is the top-selling quality Sunday.
Posted by Richard Frost
