UPDATE: WaPo Paywall Rollout Begins Next Week

 (Photo credit: kieren mccarthy)

The Washington Post Co. today announced it will begin a several-week-long phase-in of a metered paywall for its online edition next Wednesday.

Online visitors will have access to 20 free articles before being offered options ranging from $9.99 a month for desktop and mobile access to digital content to a $14.99 Digital Premium package that offers access to WaPo's custom apps.  The daily has been slow to join the 300 plus newspapers nationwide in putting up a paywall (see "TUOL" post 12/7/12), and still doesn't have its heart really in it, based on the liberal giveaways.

Not only will home delivery customers of the paper edition have complimentary access to WaPo's digital offerings, but also students, teachers, military personnel, government employees and school administrators will have unlimited free access to the online version while in their respective workplace and school. Moreover, the daily's home page, section front pages, classified ads and videos will be free to all visitors.

Presently, the Post has a first-year, $3.16 a month Sunday-only digital subscription available that increases to $7.40 a month after the trial period.

Golden Gate Bridge Meets SF Chronicle Paywall

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Hearst Corp.-owned San Francisco Chronicle has erected a paywall for its digital edition SFChronicle.com, but SFGate.com will remain free to visitors, the daily announced today.

According to a report by Cnet.com, digital-only subscribers will be able to access online content for as little as $12 a month, though for the same price, readers can get online access plus home-delivery of the Sunday paper.  For $3.60 per week, subscribers may have digital access to SFChronicle.com plus Friday through Sunday delivery of the paper edition, and $5 a week will net Monday through Sunday delivery along with online access, Cnet.com reported.

Mark Adkins, president of the Chronicle and SFGate.com, wrote in a letter to readers: 

"Subscribers to the new website will find the newspaper's unrivaled content with brilliant photos, an uncluttered format and the familiar design of the Chronicle. Premium stories and columns will update and change with the news throughout the day. Subscribers also will have full access to the Chronicle's most enduring legacy — its columnists."

Summer Job: WaPo Building Digital Paywall

 (Photo credit: kieren mccarthy)

As reported here previously (see "TUOL" post 12/7/12), the Washington Post confirmed yesterday that it will unveil a metered paywall for its digital edition this summer.

Subscription rates are still being finalized, but the daily reported yesterday that Web site visitors will be able to access 20 free articles a month before being asked to pony up. Print edition subscribers, a vanishing breed, will have unlimited access to the digital version.

The Post also will offer unlimited viewing online  to students, military personnel, government employees and school administrators if they access the Web site from their respective school or workplace. All visitors will continue to receive free access to section lead pages, classifieds and the homepage, according to the Post article.

According to the article, the Post Web site attracts 1.4 million D.C. visitors among its total monthly 20 million visitors. The Post has been rocked by dwindling circulation and advertising revenues in its print version, suffering a 14 percent drop in ad revenues and an 8.9 percent decline in daily circulation to 462,228, based on Alliance for Audited Media figures.

Toronto Daily Debuts Digital Edition Paywall Next Week

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The Globe and Mail October 22 rolls out a metered paywall for its digital readers that will allow 10 free articles a month to non-subscribers, the Toronto daily announced.

Those who subscribe to the daily print edition will have unlimited access to the digital version and apps, while weekend paper-subscribers must pony up $4.99 a month for unrestricted viewing. After an introductory one-month for $.99 promotion, current non-subscribers will be charged $19.99 a month for unlimited digital access, according to the Globe and Mail.

Canadian competitor Postmedia Network Inc. already has erected online paywalls on publications including the Vancouver Province and Ottawa Citizen.  Newspapers are increasingly turning to metered payment for online viewing to offset the loss of advertising revenue in traditional print editions. The Globe and Mail article cited a study of U.S. newspapers indicating that presently, only $1 in digital advertising is being generated for each $7 lost in print revenues.