Better than expected? Times loses 66% of online readers after paywall
- Added:
- Jul 19, 2010
The Times has lost two-thirds of its online audience since the introduction of its paywall earlier this month, beating the paper’s own expectations, according to new data.
Data from Experian Hitwise, which monitors Internet traffic, found visits to The Times's website had fallen to 33 percent of the levels seen before readers were asked to register and pay for access.
The Murdoch-owned paper is likely to take the data as favourable considering traffic had been expected to drop by as much as 90 percent.
However, the shorter drop may have been softened by an introductory offer for customers, which gave them a month’s access to the site for just £1.
The paywall went up on July 5th, and from next month, readers of the new Times+ site will be charged £1 a day to view content, or £2 for the week.
Rival print newspapers with accompanying online portals are likely watching intently from the sidelines, monitoring how the Internet audience reacts in the long-term while mulling over whether to follow suit or hold to the delivery of free content supported solely by advertising revenue.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who owns The Times via parent company News International., has already implemented a pay wall system around his other leading publication, the Wall Street Journal.
********************************
Get Netimperative updates on Twitter
