Another day, another announcement from Team Henry at the
Boston Globe.Earlier this week, Boston Globe Media unveiled a new website called BetaBoston targeted at the region's
thriving tech and start-up communities. Now the
Globe has decided to get rid of the annoying paywall on its online edition that was instituted in 2011 by former owner
The New York
Times. Over the past two years, the paywall had become so encompassing that it often blocked readers who reached the site through social media.
But that doesn't mean that new publisher
John Henry, who also owns the Boston Red Sox, plans to give away all the
Globe's goods for free.
Under a new metered system, readers will be able to read up to ten online stories
for free during a 30-day rolling period. After that, you have to subscribe. The
Globe will also allow readers who are steered to stories though social media or online searches to read
them for free.
Boston Globe Media said the move is aimed at luring more readers to the BostonGlobe.com Web site, which should boost traffic for advertisers.
And more ad traffic
means happier advertisers, and happier advertisers means more ads, and more ads means more revenue -- and so it goes.
Meanwhile, Henry has talked about growing readership and revenue
through the launch of several new niche Web sites. With BetaBoston already out of the box, Boston media junkies will be keenly watching for the launch of a rumored second site that will provide news
for the world's massive English-speaking Catholic population. With Pope Francis' popularity reaching rock star status, the new Catholic site could prove to be a solid double -- and maybe even a triple
or home run -- for John Henry.