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Bild to erect partial paywall Bild to erect partial paywall
(4 months later)
Europe's largest-selling newspaper, Bild, is to erect a paywall for some of its online content from next month.Europe's largest-selling newspaper, Bild, is to erect a paywall for some of its online content from next month.
Its main news stories will remain free to access. Otherwise, visitors to its website will be required to pay a subscription fee, with the basic digital package costing €4.99 (£4.27) a month.Its main news stories will remain free to access. Otherwise, visitors to its website will be required to pay a subscription fee, with the basic digital package costing €4.99 (£4.27) a month.
A new printing technique will enable people who buy the print issue - which costs 70 cents (60p) a day - to obtain access to the website. The publisher, Axel Springer, refers to the technique as a "world premiere" for the newspaper industry.A new printing technique will enable people who buy the print issue - which costs 70 cents (60p) a day - to obtain access to the website. The publisher, Axel Springer, refers to the technique as a "world premiere" for the newspaper industry.
The Associated Press report quotes Bild's head of digital, Donata Hopfen, as saying: "It is a change of paradigm toward a culture of paying for journalistic content online… It's a mammoth project."The Associated Press report quotes Bild's head of digital, Donata Hopfen, as saying: "It is a change of paradigm toward a culture of paying for journalistic content online… It's a mammoth project."
Bild's online service is Germany's leading news website, and Axel Springer's CEO, Mathias Döpfner, admits the partial paywall could "go wrong." But he believes there is no alternative to raising revenue in order to fund quality journalism.Bild's online service is Germany's leading news website, and Axel Springer's CEO, Mathias Döpfner, admits the partial paywall could "go wrong." But he believes there is no alternative to raising revenue in order to fund quality journalism.
An additional service offering video footage from football games – to which Axel Springer acquired the German rights – will cost an extra €2.99 a month.An additional service offering video footage from football games – to which Axel Springer acquired the German rights – will cost an extra €2.99 a month.
Bild's daily print circulation has been falling for the past few years and now stands at about 2.5m, some 200,000 more than The Sun (which sold 2.28m in April).Bild's daily print circulation has been falling for the past few years and now stands at about 2.5m, some 200,000 more than The Sun (which sold 2.28m in April).
The Sun's paywall is to go up on 1 August with a charge of £2 a week - and that includes including access to footage of Premier League football highlights.The Sun's paywall is to go up on 1 August with a charge of £2 a week - and that includes including access to footage of Premier League football highlights.
Only four years ago, Döpfner took a rather relaxed view to declining newsprint sales. He said at a Monaco media forum: "If print is dying, this death feels pretty comfortable."Only four years ago, Döpfner took a rather relaxed view to declining newsprint sales. He said at a Monaco media forum: "If print is dying, this death feels pretty comfortable."
Sources: Associated Press via Globe & Mail/The Guardian/Financial TimesSources: Associated Press via Globe & Mail/The Guardian/Financial Times
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