Herald Sun footy will lose readers from pay wall
Roar Rookie In recent months, many of the articles posted on the popular Herald Sun Footy Website have gone behind a pay-wall. While readers have been offered a free two-month trial, they will have to start paying if they wish to view footy articles written by the influential Herald Sun writers.
This is a relatively new phenomenon in the electronic age, whereby media owners are seeking to maximise their product for a profit.
The news, in this case sports news, is seen as a product delivered by journalists to us, the consumers.
This is the beginning of the end for the Herald Sun, for a few compelling reasons.
While at present the average punter enjoys the diverse and informative journalism provided by the footy writers from the Sun, it is quite a new concept from them to ask us to pay for it, particularly online.
For the price of a hard-copy most Melbournians will gladly pick up a paper for all it offers. But now they are being asked to cough up their hard-earned money for online versions.
While previously a link on Twitter, Facebook or email might prompt you to go and read the article, this changes when faced with a pay-wall.
I can see the interest waning rather quickly. I know for myself I have simply stopped looking.
As someone not based in Melbourne, I have enjoyed reading the comprehensive AFL coverage the Herald Sun provides. But not anymore.
Is there a new generation of footy followers coming through who will pay? I doubt it.
In fact I think the Y-generation is even less likely to pay for something online. The culture of the internet is that everything is free, unless it’s being delivered to your front door.
While there may be a short-term gain for the Herald Sun, I think the long-term effects on their influence are going to be profound.
We may see more and more people swap a hard copy of footy news for an electronic one on their laptop, tablet and phone.
- Explore:
- AFL, Herald Sun
May 25th 2012 @ 11:45am
Christo the Daddyo said | May 25th 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Interestingly, Fairfax was planing to charge a subscription to its Age and SMH apps after an initial 6 month free trial. That idea seems to have been quietly dropped in favour of ramping up the amount of in-app advertising.
Making money out of news delivery in the internet age is difficult.
May 25th 2012 @ 12:19pm
The Cattery said | May 25th 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
They’re good apps too.
May 25th 2012 @ 12:27pm
the flattery said | May 25th 2012 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
i stopped reading the herald sun when they started making you login to read their afl articles.
May 25th 2012 @ 1:42pm
King Of Swing said | May 25th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
The only thing that worries me about this is that now I cannot view the often hilarious cartoons by Mark Knight. As for their footy commentary, who cares? We can now get our footy news from a variety of sources, such as the Roar, for instance.
May 25th 2012 @ 1:56pm
the flattery said | May 25th 2012 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
the roar is not much of a news site. more for opinions.
May 25th 2012 @ 4:03pm
Marked said | May 25th 2012 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
Thanks for all the comments. Very interesting discussion.
In my view, the attitude of the Herald Sun has become, its about us….not you. When any organisation does that, it is the beginning of the end.
May 26th 2012 @ 9:30am
c said | May 26th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
I know for myself I have simply stopped looking as well. it is more fun reading the free comments from various idiots such as this site for example
July 7th 2012 @ 6:19pm
Slammer said | July 7th 2012 @ 6:19pm | Report comment
Will not work…well not with me anyway. Very poorly done program. Doesn’t remember you so you have to keep re-entering all of your details. Half the time it crashes when you submit comments. Can’t reply to individual comments. Takes too long for comments to be published. Too many ads for something that you have to pay for. Clumsy…unwieldy…can’t see it working. Perfect time for a bunch of journos and columnists working from home without the overheads to bury these mastheads.