In a move that it says is designed to help the community, News Corp. has removed the paywall for its mastheads for the next 28 days. I wonder if the move is more about getting more people to taste their wares before they offer a sweet post-corona deal to stay inside a paywall. Or, maybe, it is about broadening the reach of their mainly ignorant opinion writers who yell nonsense daily. Or, maybe, it is neither and purely innocent.
More than likely they are finding a lot of people aren’t buying the paper like they were before (i.e. following the rules and not going out because they dont view the newspaper as an “essential” purchase). Opening up the paywall helps keep those people reading News content rather than possibly ending up on some other free site (like the ABC) for their news in this uncertain world.
newspaper sales are in double digit growth in plenty of newsagency locations.
Just had a look at the Herald Sun. It seems the paywall is still up for any non Coronavirus related story. Haven’t looked at the Hun for ages. Still see Bolt is peddling the same old tired shock jock formula. Even if they paid me to read that stuff I wouldn’t.
Jonathan, Fair point and more so newsapaers are taking a hiding with advertising revenue way down. The current subscription can be at no extra cost for News Corp newspaper, a print copy plus digital on all devices. The growth (since promotion at different levels) in print media home delivery is substantial.
This open promotion is about competing, it about offering peole a service possibly making it essential , it is about creating goodwill and it is about sustaining and most imortantly creating new business, one of growth for them and a bit of lasting retail sales for newsagents, we hope.
It shows us that we also need to look at our business model and do our own S.W.O.T. analysis.
Footnote Country newspapers are taking a hammering with many closing -for good. ACM Austraian Community Media owns over 160 publications.publications. e interesting what Antony Catalano (ex Fairfax- Domain) pricipal owner does -digital -print or both and whatever will he come under the scrutiny as News Corp
“In a move that it says is designed to help the community, News Corp. has removed the paywall for its mastheads for the next 28 days.”
News announce they are stopping print editions of 60 local papers for the foreseeable future.
Hmmm interesting times at News Ltd.