Comments on: News Corp should open up WSJ.com’s golden door to the huddled masses yearning to surf free http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/08/04/17090 Rex Hammock's Weblog Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:51:53 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » WSJ.com reporting the WSJ.com won’t be subscription-free, but wait…. http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/08/04/17090/comment-page-1#comment-153663 rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » WSJ.com reporting the WSJ.com won’t be subscription-free, but wait…. Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:20:45 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/08/04/17090/#comment-153663 [...] When I’ve blogged on this topic in the past, I have tried to be clear that it is was my belief that the strategy Murdoch is telegraphing today — a blended one — would be the strategy they’d ultimately choose. I stated this precisely last August 4, when I wrote: “I predict we’ll see the doors flinging open on a major portion of the content soon. However, on certain sub-sets of highly-technical, business-critical data on the site, the cost of access will increase. In the end, the new owners will make lots more money.” [...] [...] When I’ve blogged on this topic in the past, I have tried to be clear that it is was my belief that the strategy Murdoch is telegraphing today — a blended one — would be the strategy they’d ultimately choose. I stated this precisely last August 4, when I wrote: “I predict we’ll see the doors flinging open on a major portion of the content soon. However, on certain sub-sets of highly-technical, business-critical data on the site, the cost of access will increase. In the end, the new owners will make lots more money.” [...]

]]> By: rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » Breaking: WSJ.com to drop subscription http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/08/04/17090/comment-page-1#comment-85617 rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » Breaking: WSJ.com to drop subscription Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:53:44 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/08/04/17090/#comment-85617 [...] This ends (at least, it’s the “end of the beginning”) the longest-running media debates of the online-era. I’ve blogged about this topic extensively and have mentioned recently that Murdoch’s savvy numbers-crunchers had helped make this decision months ago. I’m sure there are some “rest-of-the-story” details, but the facts have been, pretty much laid out. [...] [...] This ends (at least, it’s the “end of the beginning”) the longest-running media debates of the online-era. I’ve blogged about this topic extensively and have mentioned recently that Murdoch’s savvy numbers-crunchers had helped make this decision months ago. I’m sure there are some “rest-of-the-story” details, but the facts have been, pretty much laid out. [...]

]]> By: rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » New York Times figures it out http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/08/04/17090/comment-page-1#comment-57255 rexblog.com: Rex Hammock’s weblog » Blog Archive » New York Times figures it out Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:08:46 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/08/04/17090/#comment-57255 [...] prediction: The WSJ.com will also open to the huddled masses yearning to surf free by January 1. permalink | categories: media | Time posted: 5:51 pm on Monday, September 17th,2007 [...] [...] prediction: The WSJ.com will also open to the huddled masses yearning to surf free by January 1. permalink | categories: media | Time posted: 5:51 pm on Monday, September 17th,2007 [...]

]]> By: Prescott Shibles http://www.RexBlog.com/2007/08/04/17090/comment-page-1#comment-40758 Prescott Shibles Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:14:17 +0000 http://www.rexblog.com/2007/08/04/17090/#comment-40758 Rex, Thanks for supporting a hybrid of paid and free content. I can't say how strongly I disagree with many bloggers' jumping on the open content bandwagon for WSJ. While I agree that the Journal could benefit from opening some of their content, it needs to maintain the prestige associated with premium content. If WSJ goes purely free, it becomes more vulnerable to competition from other general business media sites. In addition, advertising is cyclical in nature, and I'd rather have some subscription revenue than a purely ad-supported model. It's easier to get someone to go from $1 to $1.50 than it is from $0 to $1. Look at ESPN's premium content strategy. It affords them the ability to succeed in any ad climate, with strong traffic and good Insider (their premium content offering) revenues. On the other hand, take AOL / Time Warner. Every time it focuses on subscriber revenue, advertising grows like crazy. When it opens its content up, it's time to start preparing for a change in the ad climate. They are always focusing on the current trend right before it reverses course. (NOTE: They opened up a year ago, and magazine advertising is showing weakness in 2007.) P Rex,

Thanks for supporting a hybrid of paid and free content. I can’t say how strongly I disagree with many bloggers’ jumping on the open content bandwagon for WSJ. While I agree that the Journal could benefit from opening some of their content, it needs to maintain the prestige associated with premium content. If WSJ goes purely free, it becomes more vulnerable to competition from other general business media sites. In addition, advertising is cyclical in nature, and I’d rather have some subscription revenue than a purely ad-supported model. It’s easier to get someone to go from $1 to $1.50 than it is from $0 to $1. Look at ESPN’s premium content strategy. It affords them the ability to succeed in any ad climate, with strong traffic and good Insider (their premium content offering) revenues. On the other hand, take AOL / Time Warner. Every time it focuses on subscriber revenue, advertising grows like crazy. When it opens its content up, it’s time to start preparing for a change in the ad climate. They are always focusing on the current trend right before it reverses course. (NOTE: They opened up a year ago, and magazine advertising is showing weakness in 2007.)

P

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