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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Noreen on May 07, 2009, 18:14:06

Title: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Noreen on May 07, 2009, 18:14:06
Vote here, you see the latest totals after you've voted.
QuoteRupert ­Murdoch expects to start charging for access to News Corporation's newspaper websites within a year. 'The current days of the internet will soon be over,' he said, as the media strived to fix a ­'malfunctioning' business model. Would you pay to read papers online?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/poll/2009/may/07/newspapers-rupert-murdoch
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 07, 2009, 18:17:19
I'm in the majority. :) No chance of me paying, I'm afraid, unless the quality improved dramatically. At the moment, most online journalism is even more slipshod than the printed variant. IAC, I pay Murdoch enough for Sky. :)
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Noreen on May 07, 2009, 18:20:09
Me too. ;D
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 07, 2009, 18:22:25
We are unanimous. ;D
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Glenn on May 07, 2009, 18:22:35
Make that 3
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 07, 2009, 18:23:27
If there's enough of us, we can become magnanimous. :)
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 18:29:15
I pay £7 a week to have the Telegraph delivered Mon-Sat, but I wouldn't pay even 7p to read it online. For me, staring at a monitor just doesn't do it.

Don't underestimate Murdoch though. Anyone who can get people to pay to watch adverts (Sky subscription channels still carry advertising, don't they?) shouldn't be taken lightly.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 07, 2009, 18:32:49
I never under-estimate, Murdoch, Dopamine, his track record would make that unwise.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: kinmel on May 07, 2009, 19:02:57
Quote from: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 18:29:15
I pay £7 a week to have the Telegraph delivered Mon-Sat,

I have a direct subscription that gets me daily vouchers for The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph at a cost of £48.75 per quarter by Direct Debit (£3.75 per week) which effectively gives me the 5 weekday papers free, I pay the newsagent a further 50p a week for the 7 days delivery.

Telephone their subscription service team on 0800 33 20 20 and ask what personal subscription offers they have available for you.

Quote my rate if you have to, a number of people I know have made the call and have been put on the same deal from the start of the next quarter ( which starts on 15/6/2009 )
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: bobleslie on May 07, 2009, 19:28:13
Why a sane person would actually pay for the pile of poo which is the British Press, I cannot imagine.  ;D

It's much easier to get information online from the very sources that these scum bag journalists (I use the term loosely) use, before they get their grubby little mitts on the 'facts'.  ;D

As for paying online. Not a chance.  ;D
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 19:46:52
Quote from: kinmel on May 07, 2009, 19:02:57
I have a direct subscription that gets me daily vouchers for The Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph at a cost of £48.75 per quarter by Direct Debit (£3.75 per week) which effectively gives me the 5 weekday papers free, I pay the newsagent a further 50p a week for the 7 days delivery.

Telephone their subscription service team on 0800 33 20 20 and ask what personal subscription offers they have available for you.

Quote my rate if you have to, a number of people I know have made the call and have been put on the same deal from the start of the next quarter ( which starts on 15/6/2009 )


Thank you. I'm very grateful. I'd heard about this discounted subscription, but had never been able to find details or a phone number. I'll ring them and do a bit of haggling and see where I get.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 19:53:48
Quote from: bobleslie on May 07, 2009, 19:28:13
Why a sane person would actually pay for the pile of poo which is the British Press, I cannot imagine.  ;D

It's much easier to get information online from the very sources that these scum bag journalists (I use the term loosely) use, before they get their grubby little mitts on the 'facts'.  ;D

As for paying online. Not a chance.  ;D

Do the journalists that write online come from the non-scum section of the profession, or are you referring to the many agenda driven blogs full of inaccuracies and bias?

The internet might be a great place for information, but it's far less regulated, and far more inaccurate, than the printed media (which I concede isn't always a lot better)
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: kinmel on May 07, 2009, 20:47:25
Quote from: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 19:46:52

Thank you. I'm very grateful. I'd heard about this discounted subscription, but had never been able to find details or a phone number. I'll ring them and do a bit of haggling and see where I get.

Let us know how you get on
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: bobleslie on May 07, 2009, 21:13:41
Quote from: Dopamine on May 07, 2009, 19:53:48
Do the journalists that write online come from the non-scum section of the profession, or are you referring to the many agenda driven blogs full of inaccuracies and bias?

The internet might be a great place for information, but it's far less regulated, and far more inaccurate, than the printed media (which I concede isn't always a lot better)

Your description of the 'blogs' perfectly describes much of the British Press I was referring to. Not all, admittedly, but most.

I tend to use sources such as Reuters and AP online. 

I ignore the BBC, Sky, ITV, the UN etc. because they are all institutionally PC and biased against this country.

The thing I like about reading the world's press (not blogs) is you eventually get somewhere close to the truth.

Your use of the word 'regulation' wrt our Press gave me a brief moment of comic relief.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Sebby on May 07, 2009, 21:31:29
I wouldn't want to pay for something intangible like news.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: bobleslie on May 07, 2009, 21:36:07
Of course, on line you don't have to.

However, Dopamine has a good point that you've got to beware internet sources, unless you're sure of that source.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: somanyholes on May 08, 2009, 10:24:24
If a new online newspaper started and it was called something like triple verified, no bs included i might. Beyond that then no. I think he will be shooting himself in the foot by doing this....
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 08, 2009, 10:30:55
I wish he'd aim a bit higher.  :whistle:
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Sebby on May 08, 2009, 13:18:22
:rofl: :karmic:
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 08, 2009, 14:16:36
:ithank:
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: zappaDPJ on May 09, 2009, 12:47:17
QuoteWould you pay to read newspapers online?
11.5%  Yes 
88.5%  No 

The result is not too surprising, most people wouldn't vote to pay for something that they can currently get for free.

I doubt that any news based website would survive on a wholly subscription only basis. I suspect a subscription version with richer content might be the only way to make it viable.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 09, 2009, 12:48:29
Sites like the New Scientist achieve it, but they have a niche market which makes it possible.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Noreen on May 09, 2009, 12:56:12
As far as the "New Scientist" is concerned the website is just an extra to the actual magazine subscription.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 09, 2009, 13:00:28
Ah!.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: vitriol on May 09, 2009, 18:20:31
No I wouldnt pay to read an online "paper"

The news is just depressing anyway.
Title: Re: Would you pay to read papers online?
Post by: Rik on May 09, 2009, 18:22:54
This is true, Vit, or irritating, or both. :(