Paywalls Across the Pond

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The Telegraph Media Group, owner of The Daily Telegraph, has announced the U.K. daily will become the first national general interest paper to erect a metered paywall for its digital edition.

Visitors will be able to view 20 free articles a month before being offered two subscription packages; one that charges 1.99 pounds a month ($3.01) or 20 pounds annually ($30.25), and a comprehensive "full digital pack" for 9.99 pounds a month ($15.11) or 99 pounds a year ($149.75) that also includes tablet access to the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and loyalty club membership (complete with secret decoder ring?). Under either option, subscribers will enjoy a one-month free trial. No start-up date for the paywall was indicated.

Meanwhile, The Sun, also expects to be charging visitors to view its online content sometime this year. The tabloid's online edition's monthly users are tenfold its print edition readership. The Pearson PLC-owned Financial Times has already enjoyed success in the U.K. with a metered paywall system.