1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
I can't completely confirm this, but it would appear the Toronto Star has changed the way it allows non-subscribers access to its articles. The country's largest daily newspaper used to allow people who didn't pay for its content to read only 5 articles a month. But I just logged into 10 in a row, without receiving any "you've exceeded your limit" warning. (There was a subscription come-on after the second article, but I clicked out of it and it didn't return.)
Instead, they seem to be following the Globe and Mail model, where a "lock" symbol is put beside certain articles, and those can only be seen by paying readers.
So what happened? Was the Star losing eyeballs due to their restrictions and not getting their web ads seen by enough people? Or is this simply a change in direction?
Either way, it's a major alteration and it could mean you can more easily read the paper now than you could last week. Either way, it's another indication that getting people to pay for online news content is still a challenge.
Thestar.com
- Peter the K
- Member
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
I don't read the Star because -- well it's the Star.
But I don't read the Globe and mail because their paywall is too onerous and I just can't be bothered with it.
The national post and the Sun are much easier to deal with. The fact that they I follow their political viewpoint is purely coincidental.
But the thing is, I really don't mind unobtrusive ads on a web page. Once in a while, I'll even read or click on them. There was a time years ago when I used to buy a paper specifically for the ad content -- wanna buy a stereo, grab a copy of the SUN. Since the presses are fed from PDF files these days, I'll bet if they made those available freely, ads and all, lots of people would jump on them and enjoy the paper, ads and all.
Circulation revenue isn't the major stream for any paper. Why not capitalize on the technology? Paywalls and cumbersome web pages just turn people away.
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
Peter the K wrote:
I don't read the Star because -- well it's the Star.
I don't read the Sun because -- well it's the Sun.
The problem with The Toronto Star's "Restricted to 5" idea is that it was too easy to simply read forever for free in incognito mode on your browser of choice. (ie Chrome)
RadioWiz & RadioQuiz are NOT the same person.
RadioWiz & THE Wiz are NOT the same person.
- Broodcaster
- Member
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
It's amazing how we've come to take or freedoms for granted.
- cash
- Member
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
I can't completely confirm this, but it would appear the Toronto Star has changed the way it allows non-subscribers access to its articles. The country's largest daily newspaper used to allow people who didn't pay for its content to read only 5 articles a month. But I just logged into 10 in a row, without receiving any "you've exceeded your limit" warning. (There was a subscription come-on after the second article, but I clicked out of it and it didn't return.)
Instead, they seem to be following the Globe and Mail model, where a "lock" symbol is put beside certain articles, and those can only be seen by paying readers.
So what happened? Was the Star losing eyeballs due to their restrictions and not getting their web ads seen by enough people? Or is this simply a change in direction?
Either way, it's a major alteration and it could mean you can more easily read the paper now than you could last week. Either way, it's another indication that getting people to pay for online news content is still a challenge.
Thestar.com
I see no change in the limit.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
I see no change in the limit.
Odd. I tried repeatedly to access more than 20 articles without signing in, and outside of those with the lock icon, I was able to get into all of them without any "you've reached your limit" warning coming up. Maybe it was just a temporary reprieve, but I'll give it another try.
- •
Thread Starter- Media Observer
- Member
Offline
Re: It Appears The Toronto Star Has Changed Its Online Access Policy
I estimate I was able to access 10 plus free articles earlier this month; before the paywall warning kicked in.
Since then I have used the Outline app to open up all other articles (including those with a Locked icon) without a problem.
Last edited by Media Observer (October 6, 2019 4:56 pm)