Monday, 2 November 2015

(15) Can dropping the paywall and upping the story count boost Sun’s website?

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/media/media-blog/2015/nov/01/sun-website-paywall-rebekah-brooks-tony-gallagher


 
Summary:
Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul previously known for his refusal to give editorial content away free, has bowed to the inevitable by dismantling the Sun’s paywall. It was a flawed decision at its inception in 2013 and has proved to be disastrous ever since. Even a partial lifting of the wall in July made little difference. It was significant the Sun’s digital audience slipped backwards in September compared to August, suggesting opening the odd door in the wall had failed to keep stimulating interest. Meanwhile, the paper’s rivals have continued to prosper. Overall, 2015 has been a momentous year for the Sun. It began with the scrapping of Page 3 girls. By late summer, all but one of its staff charged in connection with payments to public officials had been cleared. Its former chief executive had returned. It gained a new editor. And Murdoch, ever the pragmatist, changed his mind about the efficacy of charging for online access.

Key data/statistical information:

  • Although the revenue garnered from the Sun’s £7.99 monthly subscription for website access proved lucrative, it had the effect of locking the paper out from the online national conversation.
  • 30 November, the day when the paywall is demolished

What's my view?

I think that the Sun is taking a positive turn especially if they want to have a successful future. It tended to frustrate non-paying visitors to the website who were uncertain what was, and was not, freely available.

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