A new report (chronicled in Alan Mutter's Reflections of a Newsosaur blog) suggests a minuscule take-up rate of subscribers at news sites with paywalls: 2.4 per cent, in fact, far less than the expected rate advocates believe will emerge.
The study from ITZ/Belzen assessed the success of news sites in attracting paying subscribers when they erect paywalls. In some cases the take-up rate is approaching double digits, and without real regard to what fees are associated with the offering, but mainly it's clear that people won't easily pay for content they feel is freely available.
Last week, the new Journalism Online initiative indicated that its arrangement with publishers will see them create a metered system of several articles before people pay for full access. Even so it's expecting subscription rates of approaching 10 per cent.
The study from ITZ/Belzen assessed the success of news sites in attracting paying subscribers when they erect paywalls. In some cases the take-up rate is approaching double digits, and without real regard to what fees are associated with the offering, but mainly it's clear that people won't easily pay for content they feel is freely available.
Last week, the new Journalism Online initiative indicated that its arrangement with publishers will see them create a metered system of several articles before people pay for full access. Even so it's expecting subscription rates of approaching 10 per cent.
