Some 74 per cent of online news readers would not start paying to view the content if their favourite web portal started charging for usage, a new study reveals. They would instead find an alternative resource.
According to exclusive research from Harris Interactive, commissioned by paidContent:UK, just five per cent of those surveyed would start paying for the online news service.
The findings indicated that eight per cent would read the free headlines and nothing more, while 12 per cent said they were undecided.
Harris Interactive's research comes after News Corporation owner Rupert Murdoch revealed that the new Sunday Times website - which is currently under development - will charge people to view pages.
Some of the company's other publications' online sites are considering providing paid-for services too.
Andrew Freeman, senior media research consultant at Harris Interactive, said: "This does not look like good news for a pay model in a competitive environment."
He added that consumers will turn to free alternatives for their daily news as long as these portals exist, which means audience figures for paid-for websites will fall.
