The internet can't remain free. An advertising only business doesn't seem to be enough to carry a business. Broadcast needs license fees to augment is ad model and so do newspapers and magazines. And so, in a not so surprising move, will start to charge for viewing content. "Starting in January 2011, a visitor to NYTimes.com will be allowed to view a certain number of articles free each month; to read more, the reader must pay a flat fee for unlimited access. Subscribers to the print newspaper, even those who subscribe only to the Sunday paper, will receive full access to the site without any additional charge."
The Wall Street Journal was the first down this path and have successfully retained its subscriber model by offering web access with print. The NYT has been watching and is following suit. The question is who is next to follow, USA Today, NY Post? This is he beginning of change, more and more content will be going behind subscription walls.
