Economist exploring charging for podcasts

The Economist, which has twice as many podcast listeners as subscribers, is exploring whether to charge to listen to them, writes Bron Maher of Press Gazette.

Maher writes, “Most podcasts associated with news websites remain un-paywalled, with one notable exception being that of the otherwise paywall-free Il Post in Italy.

“The Economist has some breathing room to figure out its podcast paywall strategy, at least. Prideaux confirmed to Press Gazette that the shows pay for themselves with the advertising revenue they bring in.

“In the meantime, its many journalists have the luxury of getting their work outside the paywall and in front of more people.

“‘The Economist has this huge network of correspondents all over the world’, Prideaux said, ‘and I’m not sure we’ve shown that off.'”

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