PaidContent.UK and Harris Interactive have released an extensive survey of U.K. online users that suggests there isn't much interest in paying for content now delivered freely.
In fact, only five per cent seem willing (and would only pay about 10 pounds annually for a subscription), while three-quarters would simply switch brands if one started to charge. No big surprise.
But where the views soften is when the notion emerges of combining a print subscription with the online offering. At that point, many more put up their hands --- one-third would accept the proposition of a free or discounted print edition and an online pay model.
The poll also suggests the significant year-to-year growth of online readership of newspaper sites is slowing and perhaps stalling. That has been the case in the U.S. now for about a year.
In fact, only five per cent seem willing (and would only pay about 10 pounds annually for a subscription), while three-quarters would simply switch brands if one started to charge. No big surprise.
But where the views soften is when the notion emerges of combining a print subscription with the online offering. At that point, many more put up their hands --- one-third would accept the proposition of a free or discounted print edition and an online pay model.
The poll also suggests the significant year-to-year growth of online readership of newspaper sites is slowing and perhaps stalling. That has been the case in the U.S. now for about a year.
