Fairfax ‘actively considering’ paywall options as freemium model gains traction with readers
Fairfax has confirmed it is exploring how it operates its paywall after admitting consumers appear to be moving towards a freemium model.
The publisher said it is “actively looking” at alternatives to its current metered model for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age – where readers get 30 free articles before being required to pay to access additional content – and hard paywall for the Financial Review.
But the company stressed its consideration of alternatives did not mean any imminent change was on the cards.
At the International News Media Association world congress in London last week, newspaper executives spoke of their success in adopting freemium models, where content regarded as premium by editorial teams is kept behind a paywall.
Mr Aylmer seems like a nice guy. But when people who rely on your products are up in arms over quality it is not helpful to talk about following the consumer on what seems to be a track to oblivion.