Media: Circulation Down, NY Times Charging, CNN Free

Following on from DK’s post earlier this morning, the latest ABC figures have indicated that daily US
newspaper circulation have dropped 1.9% in the six-month period ending March
31 (the largest decline since
1995-1996) and Sunday circulation
declined 2.5% over the last six months, compared with the same period a
year ago.

Meanwhile the New York Times has announced that it will introduce a fee-based subscription
service for some its most popular content online. Called TimesSelect,
the new service will cost $49.95 a year, and provide access to Times
and International Herald Tribune columnists and the Times online
archives.

And…meanwhile, the NY Times reports, with demand growing for advertising space on the Internet, CNN.com plans
to enhance and reorganize its Web offerings, adding free features that
it hopes will attract both viewers and ad dollars. CNN will drop its $4.95 fee.

Rafat at Paid Content suggests that we all avoid any overreaction to NYT’s move.

At best, it is an experiment…unlike print, online offers so many ways to experiment with what you have. And NYT is doing that with this new move.

Center For Media Research On Circulation Figs
Marketing Vox On NYT
Rafat on NYT & CNN
NY Times On CNN