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New York Times Drama
Sep. 21st, 2005 05:34 pm♠
The TimesSelect option is a hotly evolving story in the print-media world. This morning, reading the Andrew Sullivan blog, Monk saw some haughty backlash against this New York Times move, as the conventional wisdom is that nobody pays for print media on the Net, except possibly for some financial outlets such as The Wall Street Journal where one can better fend their money interests - everyone has an ass of one's own, why pay for another's opinion? Sites were even being given where one could still read their columnists for free. Indeed, Monk was getting a little depressed over having paid for the service, as he tried to take solace over being able to enjoy the material more conveniently and without any delay.
However, before the afternoon ran out, as Mr. Sullivan put it, the Empire was striking back. The Times was closing down those freebie links, insisting that outlets put the protected columns behind a paid fence. Reports were also out that the TimesSelect move may have been due to financial stress at the Times.
Although it may now be more meaningful to have a subscription, one cannot help wondering if we may be seeing the beginning of the end of a beautiful era of dot-communism, when so much was available for free, or at least costing no more than having to sift through some ads. Though, it is by no means clear that this move will be successful, as people may continue to refuse to buy, and a lot of money comes with those ads. Monk is hoping that maybe they will at least lower the price to, say, a more reasonable $19.95 per year. Much remains to be seen.
xXx
The TimesSelect option is a hotly evolving story in the print-media world. This morning, reading the Andrew Sullivan blog, Monk saw some haughty backlash against this New York Times move, as the conventional wisdom is that nobody pays for print media on the Net, except possibly for some financial outlets such as The Wall Street Journal where one can better fend their money interests - everyone has an ass of one's own, why pay for another's opinion? Sites were even being given where one could still read their columnists for free. Indeed, Monk was getting a little depressed over having paid for the service, as he tried to take solace over being able to enjoy the material more conveniently and without any delay.
However, before the afternoon ran out, as Mr. Sullivan put it, the Empire was striking back. The Times was closing down those freebie links, insisting that outlets put the protected columns behind a paid fence. Reports were also out that the TimesSelect move may have been due to financial stress at the Times.
Although it may now be more meaningful to have a subscription, one cannot help wondering if we may be seeing the beginning of the end of a beautiful era of dot-communism, when so much was available for free, or at least costing no more than having to sift through some ads. Though, it is by no means clear that this move will be successful, as people may continue to refuse to buy, and a lot of money comes with those ads. Monk is hoping that maybe they will at least lower the price to, say, a more reasonable $19.95 per year. Much remains to be seen.
