Murdoch Sees WSJ.com Becoming Free

I've seen the news of Rupert Murdoch saying he'll likely make The Wall Street Journal online edition free reported several places on the Internet, including the Drudge Report and Maoxian.

The linked WSJ.com report:

"We are studying it and we expect to make that free, and instead of having one million [subscribers], having at least 10 million to 15 million in every corner of the earth, keeping up-to-date minute by minute with all business and economic news from around the world," Mr. Murdoch told Australian shareholders at a meeting in Adelaide.

I wonder if Barron's Online -- overall my favorite financial publication -- will become free as well?

And, despite what the Financial Times has been saying about maintaining some form of subscription in the future, can a free FT.com be far behind?

Comments

[David]

I've been wondering the same thing about FT.com. I hope they'll fully adopt that model as well; they know that WSJ is gunning for them but their is really no comparison between the two.

[David]

Sorry, that should read "there is...".

[John]

Some time back I saw that WSJ.com had significantly more paid subscribers than FT.com. I have no idea if that's still the case (my hunch is that it is). I think Barron's could make it as a stand alone, since it's been unbundled from WSJ.com (WSJ.com was a screaming bargain when it included Barron's IMHO).

I can't see anyone subscribing to FT.com if WSJ.com is free.

[David]

There was an interesting post and comment thread on the WSJ.com plan over at The Big Picture as well.

It's a very interesting time for the newspaper industry. Will it survive? Who knows, I think people will still want to read things in print, and probably the Murdochs will "leverage" the news outlets and their content across its TV and online businesses.

I don't know that everyone will adopt the same business plan, but I'm sure the smart companies will find a way to play to their strengths.

[John]

I think the WSJ has an edge on general newspapers, like The New York Times. People have shown the willingness to pay for financial content. That's why I'd be reluctant to do away with subscription charges if I owned the WSJ (this is off the top of my head without any number-crunching).

But Murdoch (my guess here) is willing to give it away to boost his burgeoning financial news empire -- WSJ and other Dow Jones assets plus his new Fox Business Network.