Murdoch to charge for the Sun online

[PRC1964]

Murdoch has form for getting away with what everyone says is impossible. Do you remember Wapping?

My core business is media and publishing and I visited fortress Wapping a couple of times in 1986-97 and it was amazing that he got away with it. I just caught the end of the old Fleet street days before he lead the way to the docklands. I have fond (blurred) memories of El Vinos.

It's his equivalent of Maggies miners strike and while I wouldn't ever write him off, I suspect that charging for online news may be his poll tax.

[Cyberman]

I would never pay for online news. I'd rather buy a newspaper. Murdoch doesn't have a clue, but then he has proven this over the years with his blind support of Labour.

[Sysman]

Those that read the sun tend to do it for the sports. I wonder if they will be prepared to pay online?

The Sun was for a long time (still?) acknowledged as the leader for its racing columns, and that drove a lot of its sales.

[BrilloPad]

Those that read the sun tend to do it for the sports. I wonder if they will be prepared to pay online?

[Sysman]

In order to stop readers from moving to the huge number of free news websites, Mr Murdoch said News Corp would simply make its content "better and differentiate it from other people".

What, like “Fox News better”?

Murdoch and Fox News

In 1995, Murdoch's Fox Network became the object of scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), when it was alleged that News Ltd.'s Australian base made Murdoch's ownership of Fox illegal. However, the FCC ruled in Murdoch's favor, stating that his ownership of Fox was in the best interests of the public.

Gag!

[Pogle]

Well I wouldnt buy the sun to wipe me neither regions on!
I cant really say that when its online though can i?

[TroubleAtMill]

I was actually an avid reader of the Sun website went it first started. No, not for that reason (there were/are better sites for that ), but because of Dear Deidre. Reading the made-up stories of chavs was definitely the highlight of my day. I still wouldn't pay for reading it if they bought her back tho'.

[snaw]

Hell I would pay, one cannot get through the day without knowing who Jordan is currently getting pumped by.

is not currently

It's a smaller list you see.

[minestrone]

Hell I would pay, one cannot get through the day without knowing who Jordan is currently getting pumped by.

[PRC1964]

Maybe he copied the business plan from Friend Reunited?

[sal626]

In order to stop readers from moving to the huge number of free news websites, Mr Murdoch said News Corp would simply make its content "better and differentiate it from other people".

What, like “Fox News better”?

[snaw]

Where's the coffee keyboard smiley?

[HairyArsedBloke]

The FT allows users to access a certain number of stories for free each month; if they want to access more than that, they need to subscribe.

clean out the cookies

[Sysman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8186701.stm

indeed.

And there's a marketer's dream. I bet they'll want online payment using your plastic - Hey Presto, lots of marketing info about their readership.

[DimPrawn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8186701.stm

"Quality journalism is not cheap, and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalising its ability to produce good reporting," he said.