R.I.P. TimesSelect (2005-2007); Journal next?
Woo-hoo! The New York Times is finally free!
Earlier this week, the Times announced it was ending its TimesSelect service in favor of a free, ad-supported subscription service.
"As demonstrated by the commitment of American Express, advertisers see the enormous value in making our site open and free to everyone," said Denise Warren, senior vice president and chief advertising officer of The New York Times Media Group, in a press release. "With the removal of the pay wall, the audience potential at NYTimes.com, already the No. 1 newspaper Web site in the United States, is vast. Advertisers on the site can expect to see an unprecedented number of Times readers interacting with their brands."
And it looks like the Wall Street Journal may take a cue from the Times, as Dow Jones owner Rupert Murdoch says a decision to axe subscription fees is "right on the front burner." WSJ.com reported a record 17.8 million unique visitors in August.
What do you think? We're taking bets now. When will Rupert make his decision? 3-1 odds are WSJ.com becomes free by the end of the year. Who's taking those odds?
