The Sun to charge for online version : Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:14 am  

In devastating news for many of us, The Sun has decided it is going to start charging you for online access to it.

"Chief executive, Mike Darcey, said it was threatening the tabloid's circulation and revenues.

Mr Darcey told the Guardian: "This decision comes from a deep-seated belief that it is just untenable to have 2.4 million paying 40p for the Sun at the same time as a bunch of other people are getting it for free."

I'm sure this "bunch" would be insulted, if they could read his words, but Mike, who decided to issue the online edition free in the first place? WHY is it free, did these "bunch" trick you into it? If you really do have this "deep setaed belief that it is untenable", why the fsck did you do something that is untenable in the first place, you total fsckin muppet?

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:05 am  

Its no more his decision than whether or not its going to snow today, its the Murdoch mantra that everyone should pay to read any of his multitude of organisations output.

Which is fine by me.

I was quite disappointed to see The Times become subscription only as on the few freebie moments when I've seen it, it looks like a quality web site to read, but if taking the likes of The Sun offline is the intention then fine, Murdoch will then get an indication of exactly how many people in the country are prepared to pay to read the output, he already knows exactly how many paper copies he sells so now lets find out how many virtual copies ...

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:09 am  

I'm looking forward to white van man or a builder's labourer getting caught short and wiping his arse on a Kindle

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:42 am  

I don't object in principle to paying for online newspapers (although obviously not The Sun). But what they should do is make it possible to pay to pay for specific sections of the newspaper rather than all of it.

I'd be prepared to pay, say to buy the Sports sections of 4 or 5 newspapers, plus the News sections from a couple of them. Perhaps one arts & books section from a weekend paper. But I have no interest in paying to read about travel, "lifestyle", celebreties etc.

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Thu Mar 28, 2013 12:47 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I don't object in principle to paying for online newspapers (although obviously not The Sun). But what they should do is make it possible to pay to pay for specific sections of the newspaper rather than all of it.

I'd be prepared to pay, say to buy the Sports sections of 4 or 5 newspapers, plus the News sections from a couple of them. Perhaps one arts & books section from a weekend paper. But I have no interest in paying to read about travel, "lifestyle", celebreties etc.

For me, all of that applies to the paper versions, not just online versions.
Indeed, one of the reasons I don't buy Sunday newspapers is all the additional sections that I never even open.
I really don't care about what someone else thinks my lifestyle should be and so-called celebrities are a total yawn.
As for travel, I reckon they get most of it from a guide book anyway because, whenever I've read about a place I've already visited, it has been apparent that they haven't even scratched the surface.
Arts and books, I get enough from the New Statesman and various memberships of organisations.

I can't imagine I'll ever subscribe to an online newspaper.
With regard to specialist magazines, however, my view would be different as I keep every issue of some and it takes up a lot of space.
(Which is why I'm going to get rid of Land Rover Owner International issues from 1995 up to today ... somehow ... dunno what to do with them, I might put them on eBay).

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Sun Mar 31, 2013 2:59 pm  

El Barbudo wrote:

specialist magazines,.

Childish snigger.

Re: The Sun to charge for online version : Sun Mar 31, 2013 5:25 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

I'm looking forward to white van man or a builder's labourer getting caught short and wiping his arse on a Kindle

I was just going to post similar, but mine was more upmarket with an iPad