No free lunch?
The greatest triumph of the Internet – freely available information – is slowly being snuffed out by the need for content providers to make money out of a channel that, in all fairness, costs money to maintain.
31 July 2002
Several British broadsheets plan to restrict selected online content to paying visitors only. It`s a business practice that, although resisted bitterly among consumers, continues to gain momentum. Last month it was announced in the UK that The Times and Financial Times, along with the Irish Times would all begin introducing subscription charges, all planning to restrict selected online content to paying visitors.
The owner of the Financial Times, Pearson, says customers prepared to spend between £75 and £200 a year for FT.com, which cost £200 million to develop, will gain access to extra comment, archives and searches. It hopes to derive ten percent of revenue – and break even – by the end of 2002.
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