Bookraft

For the past 6 months I have written several articles on how good the NYTimes is getting with its website design and features. They are:
+ Delivering Financial tools better than Google Finance.
+ Using more Web 2.0 finesse than any other major news media
+ Delivering on smartphones and mobile platforms faster than most news media
+ Using very savvy RIA technology for its 2nd try at digital delivery
- But also giving away the secret Readability sauce
So one would suspect that the NYTimes would take another try at charging for access to their website. And they have decided to do so. Here is where the NYTimes spells out the details. The key points so far are the Times will not start charging until January 2011. The charge rate has not been specified but you can currently get the NYTimes Reader for $180 for a year. Finally, like the Financial Times of London, the NYTimes will allow for free access to their website so many times a month - then upon exceeding that limit users will be prompted to pay. But crucially, if you follow a link to the NYTimes from another website, that read will always be free. Smart. But also the NYTimes also reserves the right to change its mind on all the details. I like the idea ... it gives solace to know the pendulum is swinging back against "everything for free on the Web".

Slate Prices out Potential Revenue from Fees

Slate Big Money blog prices out the NYTimes fee and arrives at a possible doubling of online revenues - problem - they don't know online revenues at the NYTimes. But if the Washington Post is a guide - that could be about $200-500M in additional revenues. Not chicken feed. See the report here