Boston Globe Launches Pay Site

[Sammi]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2011/09/11/globe-starts-far-ranging-paid-website-for-all-devices/KttpgkRAMc8FlBbsfKcyzN/story.xml

 

[Stitch]

I wonder how the NYT website is doing in regards to digital subscriptions? It's the trend now in my area as several papers in my area, all owned by different chains, now have paywalls.

 

[wicked]

The Boston Globe is using a different strategy than the NYT. As opposed to putting up a paywall on boston.com, they're moving most of the Globe content to bostonglobe.com. Boston.com will be for AP and breaking news content.

Interested in folks' thoughts on the bostonglobe.com design, too. I felt like they designed the site for an audience that traditionally reads newspapers (that could be just me, though), and I wonder if that's a good idea.

 

[SF_Express]

Simply, I like that they're trying this. Might turn the tide and help save the business -- if not the paper product -- of newspapers.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I believe sports content all remains in the free boston.com.

 

[FileNotFound]

I think it's a fabulous idea, great design, and good implementation. I hope it works.

 

[Versatile]

I think it's a fabulous idea, great design, and good implementation. I hope it works.

Either way, it will help answer the question: How much do readers care about local bylines?

At my shop, the upper management is always complaining about how much AP copy we run because they think readers dislike it. I've always felt readers are ambivalent to bylines.

 

[Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)]

Can't remember the last time I bought a Boston Globe. Used to buy one every day but haven't bothered with them for years. Roughly coincides with them being bought by NYT.

 

[Small Town Guy]

I wonder how the NYT website is doing in regards to digital subscriptions? It's the trend now in my area as several papers in my area, all owned by different chains, now have paywalls.

This is from a while ago.

http://nymag.com/news/media/new-york-times-2011-8/

 

[wicked]

I believe sports content all remains in the free boston.com.

I don't get that. Unless they have some market research that says sports fans are less likely to pay to for news -- and I'd think with the success of Rivals, etc., that wouldn't be the case.

 

[Versatile]

I believe sports content all remains in the free boston.com.

I don't get that. Unless they have some market research that says sports fans are less likely to pay to for news -- and I'd think with the success of Rivals, etc., that wouldn't be the case.

I'm actually quite certain that at least some, if not all, sports content will remain behind the paywall. They specifically hired at least two people just for BostonGlobe.com paid content sports writing.

 

[wicked]

An interesting story from Bray (who I've always liked as a tech writer) on how they're developing the site.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/09/12/new_site_a_peek_into_globes_technological_evolution/

 

[flexmaster33]

Hurray for the Globe...here's hoping that the more major newspapers do this it will start a trend down to the smaller markets. You purchase a subscription via nook or to get the print edition, it shouldn't be a surprise that you're expected to pay for a subscription online.

It's our job to be available through the new technology, but why should we be expected to give our product away for free.

 

[Ice9]

I believe sports content all remains in the free boston.com.

I don't get that. Unless they have some market research that says sports fans are less likely to pay to for news -- and I'd think with the success of Rivals, etc., that wouldn't be the case.

You could probably count on one finger how many people in Boston have a Rivals.com subscription.

 

[BrianGriffin]

I wonder how the NYT website is doing in regards to digital subscriptions? It's the trend now in my area as several papers in my area, all owned by different chains, now have paywalls.

I can't give you metrics, but I recently attended a webinar about the NYT model and the guy from the Times (don't ask me who, this was about a month ago) claimed that they were very happy with the results so far.

 

[Stitch]

Hurray for the Globe...here's hoping that the more major newspapers do this it will start a trend down to the smaller markets. You purchase a subscription via nook or to get the print edition, it shouldn't be a surprise that you're expected to pay for a subscription online.

It's our job to be available through the new technology, but why should we be expected to give our product away for free.

The product shouldn't be free, but it still won't change the fact there are more options to get news and opinion. The main question is how to increase demand for a paid product when local and national TV outlets provide news for free. You can't beat free, even if the writing on TV websites is dreck in many markets.

 

[BrianGriffin]

I believe sports content all remains in the free boston.com.

I don't get that. Unless they have some market research that says sports fans are less likely to pay to for news -- and I'd think with the success of Rivals, etc., that wouldn't be the case.

Depends what it is. If it's a gamer, probably not. If it's well-done enterprise, maybe. If it's recruiting news you have to pay Rivals/Scout/247/ESPN to get because traditional media basically doesn't cover it...well now, THAT'S where subscribers start seeing value...

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Let me clarify. I believe that all printed sports content will be available for free on boston.com. At least that's how I read the announcement in the print edition.
Let me say this without pleasure, as I have many good friends there and they and others continue to do good work. Speaking as a reader, the Globe in any format is becoming an increasingly mediocre product. There's a reliance on formula in both writing and editing that just doesn't cut it.

 

[BillyT]

Rather than start ahead thread, The Day of New London, Conn., once a great paper, not only has installed a pay well, but they are trying to spin it as something positive.

http://www.theday.com/article/20110914/BIZ02/309149928/1018

 

[lantaur]

I think these pay models are a short-term solution only. The long-term issue is how to get the 20-somethings who don't read the newspaper to buy in.

Also, I'm not sure anyone should be following the NYT pay model, except maybe the Washington Post. People outside the area go to those papers for more than just local coverage. Can't say that about hardly any other paper (not counting WSJ) that I can think of.