By FITSNews || We like to think we’re kind of a big deal around here, but we’re nothing compared to media giants like New York-based Newsday.com, which raked in a whopping 3.5 million unique visits back in May of this year.
That’s “boo-yah, touchdown … makin’ miracles happen,” people.
Anyway, with that sort of an audience, you’d think that Newsday‘s decision to start charging a small amount for access to its news content would have resulted in a fair number of takers.
From The Observer:
In late October, Newsday, the Long Island daily that (was purchased) for $650 million, put its web site, newsday.com, behind a pay wall. The paper was one of the first non-business newspapers to take the plunge by putting up a pay wall, so in media circles it has been followed with interest. Could its fate be a sign of what others, including The New York Times, might expect?
So, three months later, how many people have signed up to pay $5 a week, or $260 a year, to get unfettered access to newsday.com?
The answer: 35 people. As in fewer than three dozen. As in a decent-sized elementary-school class.
Yeah … that’s not 35,000, 3,500 or ever 350, but thirty-five (35).
Ouch.
Also, Newsday‘s unique web visits have also been plummeting since the decision was made, dropping by 50% in just two months – with January’s numbers expected to deteriorate further.
Oh well … more hits (and more ad revenue) for us.
By Liberty For Me January 26, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Really?? What did they think would happen??…I dont think it would take a rocket scientist to have told them this is what would happen.Sight advertising is the main revenue source.This of course is only going to pay off if you have good content to bring good traffic…
As long as the socialsits dont get their way and try to control the internet.The free market it represents is the last true model of what our society should be….
By Mike Reino January 26, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Cablevision, which also owns Newsday, has the same deal, although you can sign up for free if you have their cable service. I just got on there a couple days ago, but didn’t have to pay. For all it’s left leanings, it is a pretty good rag, with the best sports section around..
By Todd January 26, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Decent sized elementary school class? Sic. Only in South Carolina is that true. A decent sized elementary school class should only be 18-20 students at a time. The SC State Department of Education even has you thinking it’s acceptable to have 35 in a classroom – with six consultants for that classroom. 3 in the District office and 3 more at the State level.
By Oh No Not Again January 26, 2010 at 8:01 pm
This isn’t a full defense, but how many other media outlets are there that serve New York City?
New York Daily News.
New York TImes
New York Post
New York Observer
I know the top three have web sites.
But it is kind of daunting.
By southernmapart January 27, 2010 at 2:48 am
Ha!
Our local daily no-news print media said they were going subscription only for online viewers as of January 26th. Yesterday there was a note in the paper that there was “technical” difficulty with meeting the 26th changeover and that the online subscripts have been temporarily postponed.
We told ‘em we wouldn’t pay for their crapola.
By Ynotfirst January 27, 2010 at 7:25 am
When the State starts charging, they’ll finally be able to let CScoppe go!