Comments on: Wall Street Journal Will Soon Start Charging iPhone Users

By: patrickj

patrickj — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:20:15 +0000

In reply to Scoot. I'd like to see newspapers find ways to survive and thrive too. LIke you though, I think this is not the right way. I'm not sure what their best option would be, but it's not this one.

By: Scoot

Scoot — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:37:58 +0000

Wow – $2/week? That is a lot. I think $1/week is more affordable. WSJ has been under a lot of criticism for its recent price hikes on its print copies, and this does seem to be along that same path.

It's one thing to charge for a newspaper, but it's another to charge for news received over a medium that could easily be used to find free news. I am all for newspapers finding revenue streams (it is the only thing that will sustain them), but charging a weekly subscription is probably not the best way to do things. A flat fee for a lifetime subscription is probably better.

By: PiBlondin

PiBlondin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:43:03 +0000

I would easily pay $50 for the app if it came with unlimited access to the content, but I don't like the subscription model under which I, as a user, don't get ownership of anything.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:08:39 +0000

I agree guys. I think the WSJ is the sort of title that can maybe get away with charging something – but not the sort of level being talked about right now.

By: Frank Catalano

Frank Catalano — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:22:32 +0000

I don't think it is a great move. The paper media is already dying out & I find all my news online now. All the major news networks: Fox News, CNN, & MSNBC don't charge to view their content. On my iPhone I am currently using AP News which has improved since the last update. BNO News is another paid alternative (cheaper than WSJ subscription). I think the paper news could use all the viewership they can get right now & by charging to view their content online is not going to help them.

By: Shobizz3000

Shobizz3000 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:00:36 +0000

No!! I think that's just overboard. It's pretty bold of them I think to charge for it. As if people only have iphones, and no access to computers. Most of their information can be found on the internet from other sources, so I just don't see it being worth the money.