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Pay to Access News Websites

25 Jun 2012

Q. Some newspapers in Australia now require readers to take out a subscription to view all their articles online. This means, while some news and opinion articles are free, readers will have to pay to access all content. How likely would you be to pay a subscription to access news websites?

 

Total

7 Nov 11

Total

Aged

18-34

Aged

35-54

Aged 55+

Read The Aust

Read SMH

Read Tele

Read The Age

Read Herald Sun

Read Courier mail

Total likely

9%

13%

22%

11%

6%

25%

28%

18%

22%

10%

18%

Total not likely

88%

82%

71%

85%

93%

72%

69%

79%

76%

88%

81%

Very likely

2%

3%

5%

3%

1%

12%

7%

6%

5%

4%

5%

Somewhat likely

7%

10%

17%

8%

5%

13%

21%

12%

17%

6%

13%

Not very likely

18%

17%

16%

18%

17%

19%

18%

19%

21%

19%

13%

Not at all likely

70%

65%

55%

67%

76%

53%

51%

60%

55%

69%

68%

Don’t know

4%

5%

7%

5%

*

3%

3%

4%

2%

2%

2%

13% of respondents said they would be very or somewhat likely to pay to access news websites – up from 9% recorded in November last year.

Younger respondents were more likely to be willing to pay for access to news websites – 22% of those aged under 35.

Current readers most likely to pay for access were readers of the SMH (28%), The Australian (25%) and The Age (22%).

Only 10% of HeraldSun readers said they would be likely to pay for access.

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