News International has unveiled a new model for The Times and The Sunday Times newspapers with the launch of a membership scheme that gives readers access to exclusive events and special offers in return for a £50 annual fee.
The initiative, called Times +, is a strategic shift for News International, the publisher of both papers, which is seeking new ways to charge its readers amid weak advertising markets and declines in print circulation.
The move will be seen as a precursor to the company’s stated intent to charge for online content. Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corp, the papers’ ultimate parent company, said in May that he could start charging in his newspapers, which also includes The Sun, within the year.
”Times+ gives us the opportunity to redefine further our relationship with our readers and to reward their loyalty,” Katie Vanneck-Smith, managing director of News International’s Customer Direct division, said on Monday.
Read More: By Salamander Davoudi, Financial Times
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It sounds crazy, but if Rupert Murdoch is behind it, I'm behind it.
This is a design to thwart meddling by government in the propagation of news online with any "fairness doctrine" style requirement. If I pay for something the government can not tell me what I will receive. Or can they? Rupert Murdoch has put the socialists in an uncomfortable position where they must show their "cards" if they wish to stifle media opposition with mandated content.
I still want to know why Michael Savage is being silenced by the so called free press, including FOX news and associates. He is a valid celebrity representing millions of listeners yet he is completely shut out of all debate. Why?
David Axelrod is behind it.
I just discovered that there is censoring going on on this blog. If you use a certain persons name you are given a popup that says your comment is awaiting approval by a "moderator" and it is simply silenced. How obnoxious and covert this site is to censor even a mans name. What are they afraid of?Google this, " weiner commentator" to get the censored name.
Eric… there is no censoring going on at this blog…. if you are logged into intensedebate your comment is instantly uploaded and will only be deleted if it is inappropriate…. if you log into WordPress and comment through that method the system requires us to approve your comments and we generally do…