Published August 16, 2010
First, a simple formula:
T&G = NYT = Globe
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has taken the paywall plunge, charging users for access to more than 10 articles per month. This is interesting for one reason: The T&G is owned by the New York Times Co., which also owns the Boston Globe.
The Globe has been pondering a paywall for some time now. It’s is a relatively low-impact experiment for the Times Co., which owns almost 20 local/regional papers.
The Globe, which operates Boston.com, hasn’t decided whether it will charge for online content. “We are still looking into the possibility of instituting a pay model,” said Globe spokesman Robert Powers.
Details of the new pricing model:
- Subscribers of the dead-tree edition have unlimited access to Telegram.com
- Non-subscribers have free access to 10 articles per calendar month; must register
- Non-subscribers can get unlimited access for $14.95
- Non-subscribers can buy a 24-hour day pass for $1
- Breaking news remains free
NU journalism professor Dan Kennedy told WBUR the change could increase subscriptions to the newspaper. But he doesn’t think the move will help the paper’s website — and that’s where the T&G should be focusing its attention. Why would someone pay $15 for site access but no paper subscription? Kennedy also blogged about it on Media Nation.
Update: WBUR management tells me we have no plans to charge for access to wbur.org.
Will you pay to read the Telegram & Gazette online? Would you pay to read the Globe? Will this thing work?