Paywalls in the News: The Ups and Downs of Paywalls

Paywalls are in this week’s subscription news headlines, including redesigned websites, metered paywalls and a possible merger. Irish Times paywall goes live July 29

Paywalls are in this week’s subscription news headlines, including redesigned websites, metered paywalls and a possible merger.Irish Times paywall goes live July 29In February, we reported the Irish Times was planning to implement a metered paywall, hoping to add a digital subscription base to its current revenue streams. That plan will become a reality effective July 29, says The Guardian. On that date, users will be able to read up to 10 articles before having to pay for access. After that, they can subscribe to one of four packages ranging from 12 to 50 a month. The standard and premium digital packages are available for 1 for the first month, but the combined print and digital packages do not have a discounted trial. The paywall changes follow a recent redesign of the Irish Times website (see screenshot of new site below).

The Nation Erects a Metered PaywallYesterday CNN Money reported that The Nation, an independent weekly magazine with a focus on investigative reporting and spirited debates, will add metered paywalls to their websites. The announcement follows The Nation’s recent website redesign. According to CNN Money, articles will remain free for a few months, and then the 150-year-old magazine will implement a hybrid of free and paid content. Subscribers will have full access to the site and can make comments, while casual readers will not.”We’ll introduce a metered system that continues to put The Nation in front of new readers, but also asks our regular visitors to contribute to the cost of independent journalism,” said executive editor Richard Kim in a letter to readers.

Piano Courts TinyPassIn an article by Ken Doctor for Capital New York, Doctor says that Piano Media is in talks with TinyPass, the second largest paywall tech company in the U.S., to acquire the company. Last fall Piano Media acquired Press+ to create the largest company in the industry. If Piano Media also acquires TinyPass and its $5 million in annual revenue, the paywall tech industry becomes much smaller. If a merger occurs, Piano Media would acquire TinyPass’s 400 or so clients including Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple and Health.com, giving it more than 1,000 paywall-powered websites.UPDATE, Aug. 11, 2015 — Piano Media and TinyPass have merged, creating Piano, a new SaaS company.

For more paywall news, see some of our recent blog posts:Pando Daily Moves to Membership Model The Sun Relaxes Paywall to Attract Social Media Traffic Celebrity Gossip Could Cost You: EW.com Launches Metered Paywall The Street Breaks Down Barriers with Metered Paywall

Filed in Business Services, Business Strategy, Magazines, News, Payment Processing, Paywall

Dana E. Neuts

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Editorial Director, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, premium content, and reports. Dana is also a writer, editor, marketer and communications professional. Her work has appeared in AARP Bulletin, The Seattle Times, Seattle Business, 425 Business, 425 Magazine, South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel and more. Her specialties include business writing, community news, senior issues, travel and, of course, subscriptions!