L.A. Times to launch paywall: 15 free stories per 30 days

[Newsjock]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-times-20120224,0,1301270.story

The Los Angeles Times will begin charging readers for access to its online news, joining a growing roster of major news organizations looking for a way to offset declines in revenue.

Starting March 5, online readers will be asked to buy a digital subscription at an initial rate of 99 cents for four weeks. Readers who do not subscribe will be able to read 15 stories in a 30-day period for free.

... After the 99 cents for the first four weeks, the rate will rise to $1.99 a week in a package that also includes the Sunday newspaper. Digital-only access will cost $3.99. Online access will be included at no extra charge for print subscribers.

[qb]

1. IMO if a newspaper can't support online articles with ad revenue, they're fucked.

They provide interesting articles, but not interesting enough for most people to pay for.

[KamaAina]

2. Lovely. One of the few decent papers in the state is now effectively unavailable up here.

I'll be damned if I'll subscribe to an L.A. paper just for an occasional good article about state politics.

[msongs]

3. when it goes out of business there goes the "occasional good" articles nt

[KamaAina]

5. Sites need to get paid per click through a fee built into ISP bills

cable channels, especially local sports networks, put a monthly charge on people's cable bills whether they watch them or not.

edit: I've lived in about twelve different states. I can't possibly subscribe to every single paper that might be of interest to me.

[Ratty]

4. This seems reasonable

The fourth estate has been in decline for years, first by being gobbled up and consolidated by corporate interests, now because of the internet. I really hope they find a business model that works.

[spanone]

6. just like the nytimes...i find i just drive right by it now.

they're already getting the ad money...fuggem