Rupert Murdoch: Web sites to charge for content

[tonyfloyd]

Interesting....

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/05/07/murdoch.web.content/index.html

 

[jdk]

I can understand the WSJ, but I wouldn't ever pay for access to a site such as CNN

 

[copper]

Some news site already doing it, partially.
I forgot which one, but...
you start reading articles
you see related archived articles.
click on it and said I need paid membership to view it.

 

[FormerDnForumer]

I can understand the WSJ, but I wouldn't ever pay for access to a site such as CNN

Exactly. It's Murdoch's ego. Nothing more. Comsumers have an allergy even to registering for newspaper sites, never mind paying.

People only pay for very specific information that will help them earn money.

 

[Gerry]

Exactly. It's Murdoch's ego. Nothing more. Comsumers have an allergy even to registering for newspaper sites, never mind paying.

People only pay for very specific information that will help them earn money.

It is more than ego.

It is money.

Newspapers are folding at an alarming rate. That is where Murdoch was.

Newspapers are poison for the investor even if it is a slow death. Warren Buffett was recently quoted as something like, "I wouldn't invest a dime in newspapers."

But it is not just newspapers. Print magazines are on their way out.

Murdoch's plan is good from a company standpoint but I think he will soon realize that the content will end up being free.

Nothing will stay the same. Nothing at all.

Old models of doing business or advertising is finished. And these "old models" may have just been conceived a couple of years ago and they are already outdated and outmoded.

 

[FormerDnForumer]

I'm saying it's ego that says he can oppose the hurricane that is ripping apart ad revenues. Many very large newspapers not in his possession, filled with tremendously smart people have not been able to get people to pay for online access, and online revenues are a pittance compared to print revenues, so Murdoch is just blustering.

He is posturing in his usual way. The deck chairs are arranged.

 

[dn.canton]

I can understand the WSJ, but I wouldn't ever pay for access to a site such as CNN

Yeah, exactly. If the content is unique, rare, or especially useful, I would definitely pay for it, but a site like CNN, forget it.

 

[denny007]

Warren Buffett was recently quoted as something like, "I wouldn't invest a dime in newspapers."

Actually he said it more than 2 years ago
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2006.html

And he is talking about that decline as long as since 1991
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1991.html

 

[Gerry]

Actually he said it more than 2 years ago
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2006.html

And he is talking about that decline as long as since 1991
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1991.html

I could not recall exactly when he said the statement about newspapers. I knew he was not bullish about newspapers.

He repeated it just recently at Berkshire's Shareholder's meeting.

Appreciate the other link. Interesting read:

In last year's report, I stated my opinion that the decline in
the profitability of media companies reflected secular as well as
cyclical factors. The events of 1991 have fortified that case: The
economic strength of once-mighty media enterprises continues to
erode as retailing patterns change and advertising and
entertainment choices proliferate. In the business world,
unfortunately, the rear-view mirror is always clearer than the
windshield: A few years back no one linked to the media business -
neither lenders, owners nor financial analysts - saw the economic
deterioration that was in store for the industry. (But give me a
few years and I'll probably convince myself that I did.)

Smart dude.