Will Weight Watchers save newspapers?
It's not that weird a question to ask with Reuters reporting the New York Times has been studying the Weight Watchers model closely and plans to use it for newspapers. Weight Watchers charges readers to get in-depth information about products and dieting, all part of a strategy aimed to convert free users into paying customers.
According to Reuters, the New York Times plans to bring in a metered' Internet model, along with apps for smartphones and tablets. Under this model, it would charge readers next year after they access a limited number of articles for free on NYTimes.com. It says the Times has been working with consumer electronics and technology companies, including Microsoft Corp, Sony Corp, Samsung Electronics, Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc, for its digital editions.
The New York Observer explains it in more detail. The Times will allow free access to a limited number of articles each month and charge users who exceed that number.
Will that work? Much of this will depend on the pricing and the New York Times better tread carefully here.
Another question is whether a model from Weight Watchers would work for newspapers. The problem to my mind is that sites like Weight Watchers have a very motivated market, its followers are specifically focused on one thing. Would you classify newspaper readers the same way?
Still, the New York Times should be congratulated for its courage and ingenuity in trying new initiatives to deal with the structural change that's now damaging newspapers. And if it works, we are likely to see other newspapers heading down the same direction.
no comment untill now