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Home » Blogs » The Web » Murdoch crazy if he charges for online news
Posted by Haig Kayserian | Monday, May 11, 2009 | Comments [3]

Some of the older rich folk, like Aussie-American Mr. Rupert Murdoch, have only kept up with the internet age by buying anything they can get their hands on. Some investments have succeeded while others have failed.

But the bottom line has been that the Murdoch types have not been the innovators of the internet age, but have tried wherever possible to line themselves up as the beneficiaries.

Old man Rupert has now thrown up a curly! He is hinting that he will consider charging people for reading his online news!

He was quoted by Fairfax competitor SMH: "There is no doubt that the traditional newspaper model has to change... classified revenues are undoubtedly migrating to the web, probably not to return."

The reason classified revenue is migrating to the web is because that is where the audience prefers to read your newspapers Mr. Murdoch. And why the web? Ummmm... maybe because it is a very accessible source... Part of its accessible allure is that internet news is free!

Murdoch is further quoted by SMH as using the success of The Wall Street Journal as reasoning that charging a 'subscription' for online content could work.

"That it is possible to charge for content on the web is obvious from the Journal's experience...," says the News Limited dynamo.

He is obviously not as stupid as he sounds, but Mr. Murdoch must surely be aware that the content of The Wall Street Journal, and even Australia's Crikey.com.au for that matter, is very different from the diatribe in his newspaper offerings like The Daily Telegraph and the Herald Sun.

The Journal and Crikey offer original content - essays and commentary that is different to 'this happened and this was said' news.

If Murdoch goes down this path, he will most definitely add this online investment to News Limited's 'failed' list. It will be met with opposition from internet enthusiasts, while his competitors over at Fairfax will become the ultimate beneficiaries.


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Noel
May 11, 2009
#1

Yep do it Rupert. If you do, you will simply lose viewers, yet lose market share in the ever-important advertising market.

MK
May 11, 2009
#2

I think it is terrible use of the internet. Well thought out article, and this guy needs to be condemned for trying to turn the net into his marketplace.

The net is free and to turn a democratic right such a news to paid would be criminal. Rupert is kidding himself if he thinks people will pay.

Jerome Marsh
May 11, 2009
#3

I hate it but think it will work if Murdoch wants it to work.


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