It's finally happened. You gotta pay to play now at the New York Times online. The company is introducing digital subscriptions. "It's an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in
The Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform," said the publisher in a release. "The change will primarily affect
those who are heavy consumers of the content on our Web site and on mobile applications."
Starting today the Times will launch digital subscriptions to readers in Canada as a beta prior
to global launch.
On March 28, the company will begin digital subscriptions to NYTimes.com in the U.S. and worldwide.
Home-delivery subscribers will get content for free, as will
subscribers to the International Herald Tribune.
Essentially readers have free access up to a certain point. Once that point is reached, you have to subscribe to keep reading.
Specifically you can view view 20 articles each month at no charge (including slide shows, videos and other features) on NYTimes.com. Thereafter you have to become a digital subscriber.
The company says Top News on tablets and smartphones will remain free. The Times is offering three digital subscription packages on computer, smartphone, tablet. Readers who come to Times articles
through links from search, blogs and social media like Facebook and Twitter will be able to read those articles, even if they have reached their monthly reading limit. Also, the home page at
NYTimes.com and all section fronts will remain free to browse.