BostonGlobe.com Launches But It’s Not Free Content
The Boston Globe has launched BostonGlobe.com, a site that provides a wide range of authoritative news, analysis and opinion on issues and topics including politics, sports, arts, education and business.
Before you get confused, this is not the same as Boston.com, the site that attracts about six million unique visitors a month. So what’s the difference? According to Christopher M. Mayer, publisher of The Boston Globe:
“BostonGlobe.com provides a wide array of news and information for digital consumers and a coveted audience for advertisers. Our research showed that we have different segments of news consumers in our market, and we need to reach them in different ways. We are also providing advertisers a new opportunity to connect with a premier reader base in an uncluttered and innovative new format.”
Home-delivery print subscribers will receive unlimited free access to BostonGlobe.com. Sponsoring free trial subscription for all readers until September 30, 2011 is Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage New England.
Here’s the not so juicy part of this story: Starting October 1 though, the site’s paywall kicks in, charging $3.99 per week for a digital-only subscription. Here are other features of the new site. Let’s see if this would entice you to add $3.99 to your weekly budget:
– Breaking news all day
– Documentary-style video
– Exclusive editorial content such as behind-the-scenes video of how a story came to be
– Online chats
– Full screen photo galleries
– Free access to The Boston Globe archives
– Exclusive events with Globe staff, such as talks and panels at the Globe
– Special reader/advertiser offers and events, such as exclusive group travel opportunities
So what happens to Boston.com? Apparently, the site will continue to offer breaking news and sports coverage, local deals, online classifieds, community conversations and a limited number of BostonGlobe.com stories. The site will also offer new blogs on topics such as food, local music, health, nutrition and travel. Now, this is really confusing me.
Readers who come to BostonGlobe.com articles through links from search engines, blogs and social media will be able to access those individual articles. The homepage and all section fronts will also remain free to browse for all users at all times.
Subscribers have unlimited access to the entire site. Again, are you ready to add $3.99 to your weekly budget?
