London Times To Charge Online Readers From June

The Times of London and its sister title The Sunday Times have announced that they will raise a paywall around their news and that online readers will be charged £1 for a day’s access to Times Plus and £2 for a week’s subscription from early summer. The News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, has been quoted as saying that other titles, such as the Sun and the News of the World, will follow:

“This is just the start. The Times and the Sunday Times are the first of our four titles in the UK to move to this new approach. These new sites, and the apps that will enhance the experience, reflect the identity of our titles and deliver a terrific experience for readers. We expect to attract a growing base of loyal customers that are committed and engaged with our titles.”

At the new site, the newspaper explains the following benefits to signing up:

Welcome to Times+ membership benefits, your doorway to a wonderful world of opportunity. If you’re a member of Times+, you’re a member of The Times and The Sunday Times, and can look forward to invitations to exclusive events – free film screenings, private views, early access and expert talks – plus upgrades, money-saving offers, gifts and much more.
Times+ gives you access to exclusive members benefits, events + offers + extras, and you can find out all about them here on the Times+ website. We’ll also present a selection of new offers in The Times and The Sunday Times every week, and send you regular e-mail updates.

The Guardian estimates that if 5% of the 1.22 million current users sign up for the daily service, it would bring in £1.83m.

TimesPlus