Comments on: Final Word On WSJ.com: More Free Content, But Subscriptions To Remain, Likely To Cost More http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:03:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Arthur http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1992565 Arthur Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:08:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1992565 G-d ... people will pay ... mark my word almighty one. G-d … people will pay … mark my word almighty one.

]]> By: god http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1988842 god Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:18:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1988842 Idiots - all those who think that using the medium that common everyday folk subsides and join the dots which makes the whole - and then come along these nitwits - they need to wake up and smell the coffee already - we will not pay......we will not pay.....you will change ------ now or some other day ----come what may Idiots - all those who think that using the medium that common everyday folk subsides and join the dots which makes the whole - and then come along these nitwits - they need to wake up and smell the coffee already - we will not pay……we will not pay…..you will change —— now or some other day —-come what may

]]> By: Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? » DistrictSource.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1959531 Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? » DistrictSource.com Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:00:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1959531 [...] since the rear-guard at the Wall Street Journal won the battle to keep its news pages behind its subscription wall (although, its opinion pages are now free), [...] [...] since the rear-guard at the Wall Street Journal won the battle to keep its news pages behind its subscription wall (although, its opinion pages are now free), [...]

]]> By: Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1959161 Why Does the Wall Street Journal Hate the Web? Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:53:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1959161 [...] since the rear-guard at the Wall Street Journal won the battle to keep its news pages behind its subscription wall (although, its opinion pages are now free), [...] [...] since the rear-guard at the Wall Street Journal won the battle to keep its news pages behind its subscription wall (although, its opinion pages are now free), [...]

]]> By: slofstra http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1941308 slofstra Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:44:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1941308 The idea of the 'free' model is to attract a high plurality of viewers and then advertise. This works in a 3 channel universe, i.e. early television. It DOES NOT work on the Internet; or it will work for only one or two sites. Simple math proves that 20 good content sites cannot all draw a plurality of viewers; i.e. they cannot all be sustained by a business model of advertising revenue only. The idea of the ‘free’ model is to attract a high plurality of viewers and then advertise. This works in a 3 channel universe, i.e. early television. It DOES NOT work on the Internet; or it will work for only one or two sites. Simple math proves that 20 good content sites cannot all draw a plurality of viewers; i.e. they cannot all be sustained by a business model of advertising revenue only.

]]> By: The Drama 2.0 Show http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1939434 The Drama 2.0 Show Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:42:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1939434 <strong>Rupert Murdoch Gets It...</strong> I like Rupert Murdoch. You simply can’t argue with success. The way he expanded News Corp. into a global media powerhouse is nothing short of remarkable and even if you don’t agree with his beliefs, I think any reasonable person has to resp... Rupert Murdoch Gets It…

I like Rupert Murdoch. You simply can’t argue with success. The way he expanded News Corp. into a global media powerhouse is nothing short of remarkable and even if you don’t agree with his beliefs, I think any reasonable person has to resp…

]]> By: johns http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1939113 johns Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:32:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1939113 I had a thought that perhaps the majority of the people who pay for WSJ content are doing so as a "business expense" and taking a tax deduction. Since the WSJ is focused on financial news, you can make a good case with the IRS for doing this. This deduction probably couldn't be made to fly with most other papers. I wonder how their subscription model would hold up if a tax deduction couldn't be taken against the subscription fees? I had a thought that perhaps the majority of the people who pay for WSJ content are doing so as a “business expense” and taking a tax deduction. Since the WSJ is focused on financial news, you can make a good case with the IRS for doing this. This deduction probably couldn’t be made to fly with most other papers.

I wonder how their subscription model would hold up if a tax deduction couldn’t be taken against the subscription fees?

]]> By: Arthur http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938543 Arthur Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:26:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938543 Of course they are keeping the paid content ... the advertising pie is TOO small. People ARE willing to pay for content, they just aren't willing to pay for it in the current format that sites like WSJ are offering it. Would you pay for channel 47? No, but as part of your cable TV you watch it periodically. Same with paid sites. There are sites like OnScribe offering paid membership websites as a package. People will pay for a valuable service and convenience. Of course they are keeping the paid content … the advertising pie is TOO small.

People ARE willing to pay for content, they just aren’t willing to pay for it in the current format that sites like WSJ are offering it. Would you pay for channel 47? No, but as part of your cable TV you watch it periodically. Same with paid sites. There are sites like OnScribe offering paid membership websites as a package.

People will pay for a valuable service and convenience.

]]> By: codeCrunch http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938539 codeCrunch Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:20:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938539 them bones, them bones... them bones, them bones…

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938468 Chris Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:08:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938468 Please explain how the content is of better quality because a few people, curiously, are willing to pay for it. Please explain how the content is of better quality because a few people, curiously, are willing to pay for it.

]]> By: PK http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938406 PK Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:21:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938406 yeah, i guess thats why i check the NYT website 90 times a day and the WSJ website 3 or 4...oh well, i was hoping they'd go the free route i think rupert's initial instincts were right---go free yeah, i guess thats why i check the NYT website 90 times a day and the WSJ website 3 or 4…oh well, i was hoping they’d go the free route i think rupert’s initial instincts were right—go free

]]> By: Dave Q http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938315 Dave Q Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:35:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938315 Prediction: Digital products will be free. Prediction: Digital products will be free.

]]> By: gyula csocsan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938271 gyula csocsan Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:11:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938271 "Although the full details of the plan are not clear" for us, not for Murdoch LOL “Although the full details of the plan are not clear”

for us, not for Murdoch LOL

]]> By: Uh-huh http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938134 Uh-huh Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:35:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938134 I gladly pay the subscription fee. Quality content cannot be free. I gladly pay the subscription fee. Quality content cannot be free.

]]> By: Joe M. http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938124 Joe M. Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:33:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1938124 I think this is the right move by the WSJ and I think JeremyB is right. No one knows where do draw the line when it comes to free content and paid content. I think eventually that the WSJ will be free but by continuing to offer a paid service they still get to keep all the subscription fees. They would be stupid to end subscription fees all at once. Hundreds of thousands of subscribers probably write that fee off or it is paid by their company. Most of their subscribers could care less about the cost. As the years go on, the subscriber benefits will become less and less valuable but if they keep their subscriber base, there will be no reason to switch to free. I think this is the right move by the WSJ and I think JeremyB is right. No one knows where do draw the line when it comes to free content and paid content.

I think eventually that the WSJ will be free but by continuing to offer a paid service they still get to keep all the subscription fees. They would be stupid to end subscription fees all at once. Hundreds of thousands of subscribers probably write that fee off or it is paid by their company. Most of their subscribers could care less about the cost. As the years go on, the subscriber benefits will become less and less valuable but if they keep their subscriber base, there will be no reason to switch to free.

]]> By: johns http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937937 johns Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:34:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937937 @4 - You forgot the NY Times, Washington Post and a slew of other high profile news sources are free also. The WSJ is living in the past when it used to be relevant. It's really hard to to teach an old dog new tricks..... @4 - You forgot the NY Times, Washington Post and a slew of other high profile news sources are free also.

The WSJ is living in the past when it used to be relevant. It’s really hard to to teach an old dog new tricks…..

]]> By: Ed http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937934 Ed Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:34:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937934 Library accounts are free and anyone with a library account can get WSJ.com for free. Library accounts are free and anyone with a library account can get WSJ.com for free.

]]> By: John Furrier http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937711 John Furrier Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:35:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937711 Duncan, I call it the burn the village strategy...they are commoditizing the blogosphere... http://furrier.org/2008/01/24/burn-the-village-strategy-wsj-subscription-firewall-what-it-really-means/ Duncan,
I call it the burn the village strategy…they are commoditizing the blogosphere…

http://furrier.org/2008/01/24/.....lly-means/

]]> By: eytan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937593 eytan Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:11:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937593 @1 "people often associate shit with free" is so 90s. I think that today, people often associate subscription based content as waste of money as there are free alternatives. google is free. techcrunch is free. facebook is free. i don't think anyone thinks that they are shit. Cheers, Eytan. @1 “people often associate shit with free” is so 90s.

I think that today, people often associate subscription based content as waste of money as there are free alternatives.

google is free.
techcrunch is free.
facebook is free.

i don’t think anyone thinks that they are shit.

Cheers,
Eytan.

]]> By: JeremyB http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937564 JeremyB Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:56:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937564 I love this decision in theory, but as always, the devil's in the details. It'll be interesting to see if News Corp. goes to school on the NYT's experience with Times Select: can they actually figure out where to draw the line, i.e. what content should remain behind the pay wall? I'd expect the archives to go free (a potential search bonanza), but what exactly qualifies as "the really special things"? I love this decision in theory, but as always, the devil’s in the details. It’ll be interesting to see if News Corp. goes to school on the NYT’s experience with Times Select: can they actually figure out where to draw the line, i.e. what content should remain behind the pay wall? I’d expect the archives to go free (a potential search bonanza), but what exactly qualifies as “the really special things”?

]]> By: Binaryday http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937556 Binaryday Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:53:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937556 anyone has any data on how the readership number changes after migration to free content? anyone has any data on how the readership number changes after migration to free content?

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937541 Jonathan Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:41:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/24/final-word-on-wsjcom-more-free-content-but-subscriptions-to-remain-likely-to-cost-more/#comment-1937541 Smart move, people often associate shit with free. This guy knows how to make money period. Smart move, people often associate shit with free. This guy knows how to make money period.

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