Why charging for online Sunday Times ‘won’t work’

Posted by Nikki Wicks on 4 June 2009 at 10:30
Tags: Journalism, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online

Daily Telegraph communities editor Shane Richmond has listed five reasons why the Sunday Times‘ reported plans to charge for online content won’t work.

Topping his list, Richmond writes in his Telegraph blog that “consumers won’t pay if there’s a free alternative” - an opinion he has expressed in previous posts, suggesting that “getting ‘good enough’ free beats paying for ‘great’.”

Coming in at two, Richmond writes that not even unique commentators such as Jeremy Clarkson will be enough to persuade consumers to part with their cash.

Also on the list, Richmond suggests that the Sunday paper experience of negotiating that vast slab of paper is something that consumers will not be willing to lose with online versions.

Tags: Journalism, National Newspapers, New Media, Newspapers, Online