new news!

Headline: One Paper Hopes Fans of Politics Will Pay Up
Date: Monday January 29, 2007
Source: NY Times

Another business model that is very interesting. The Sacramento Bee was introducing a new Web site focused on California government and state politics. The subscription fee for Capitol Alert is $499 a year which will be attracted to niche audience who mostly are lobbyists or politiccal insiders. Subscribers will have an access to exclusive blogs, expanded columns, e-mail updates as well as an early access to some articles scheduled to appear in the next day's paper. According to Joyce Terhaar, The Bee's managing editor, this news judgment model will have three diffrent publishing platforms: 1) content that would not be "of broad interet" will be provided to the main Web site's readers. 2) the content that would not necessarily make it into the paper. 3) content that is niche and content that should go into the paper.

In conclusion, I see this is the (creative) way to generate more online revenue as opposed to the decline in print subscribers. Surely, many traditional newpaper will follow this path and even come up with more attracking features. Undoubtedly, consumers will benefit from this offer; more access to very-up-to-date and invaluable content. One thing behind paid-regstration walls is that how much money readers would like to pay up. And when they do willing to pay that amount, how the company make it's worth their dollars and keep them to visit the site regularly.