FT changing way it charges for online content

The Financial Times is ditching the metered charging model it pioneered and switching to an approach that will require users to pay to access most of the newspaper’s content online, write Jasper Jackson and John Plunkett of The Guardian.

Jackson and Plunkett write, “Currently, readers can access up to three articles a month if they are registered, but must become subscribers to access any more.

“Starting on Friday, the newspaper, which is owned by the Pearson Group, will begin rolling out a system where visitors are offered a month’s trial providing access to most FT content for a ‘nominal’sum.

“The FT says it is still working on the details of the new system, but initially those already registered will still be able to access three articles a month.

“FT CEO John Ridding said: ‘Eight years ago we launched the metered model, which has been fantastically successful. It’s been a real source of transformation and a good source of contribution to the business. We are evolving this and developing a different approach which is paid-for trials, whereby as for a nominal sum, will have unlimited access for a month.

“‘The theory is that within that they can build a habit, and then become a subscriber.'”

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