metered newspaper!

Few days ago, I read about New York Times' plan for a metered billing system on its website some time next year. Imagine that! Jeff Cole mentioned in our first meet the hard hit that print newspapers have been getting since the increase of internet usage. A print subscriber will never be replaced -- it will only be replaced by more digital readers..(offspring)? Sad. Those days will be missed.

Back to my main point, newspaper companies are hanging by the thread, finding ways to survive online. To make matters worse, last year's advertising recession contributed to revenues losses for all newspaper companies. So, the new solution - charge the readers online!

New York Times will base its metered billing system on Financial Times' model. Frequent online readers (1o or more visits a month) will be charged at a flat rate. I wonder how this model will work for New York Times. The Financial Times subject matter is tailored for a niche group, while content for New York Times is rather comprehensive. How many of the New York Times' readers will remain loyal or switch brands?

Other thoughts: how will they keep track of readers? People have so many different gadgets now adays! I have an iPhone, laptop, desktop...

Reference: New York Tines Online Meter