Bloomberg explores the steadily growing world of paid content online, made up of publishers and platforms that rose to digital prominence with largely free and ad supported offerings. Among others,
LinkedIn Corp., Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN, Skype are now reportedly boosting sales by adding features that customers have to pay for. LinkedIn, for one, recently introduced a product that helps
recruiting agencies scour the networking site for job candidates, while ESPN this summer merged its online magazine with its Insider service, which costs $6.95 a month. Skype, meanwhile, has added
features such as voice mail and calling plans that allow users to dial land-line phones for a monthly fee. According to Bloomberg, the shift reflects a desire by publishers and platforms to reduce
their dependence on online advertising.
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