The launch of subscription-based internet paywalls to Australian Provincial Newspapers’ 12 regional daily newspapers across Queensland and NSW is sweetened by access to News Limited websites.
In a sweetheart deal along the line of the print distribution cooperation between the two newspaper chains, readers who pony up the $6 -$8 dollars a week to cross the paywall, will also be given subscriptions to Fox Sports and even The Washington Post. Queensland readers will get website access and weekend issues of the Courier-Mail, while NSW subscribers will receive The Daily Telegraph.
APN newspapers already share distribution trucks with News Corp titles in Australia and with Fairfax in New Zealand. In what once was a hugely competitive industry, the cooperation is a response to softening circulation and advertising figures. Despite its non-competitive features the arrangements have not drawn any adverse comment from the ACCC.
The paywall move follows a successful launch of the programme at Toowoomba’s The Chronicle in August. According to ARM chief executive Neil Monaghan, the Toowoomba readership responded well. “I’m delighted to be extending Australia’s best value digital subscription across all of our regional daily news titles, offering readers the best news and information from their local city, their state and the world; as well as excellent products, benefits and rewards, all for as little as $3 a week for the first 12 weeks,” he said.
Under the metered content model, visitors to a local masthead’s website will be able to view 10 articles per month, before being invited to subscribe to its Unlimited digital subscription package. The full subscription gives access to a digital replica of the printed publication as well as other benefits.
Queensland subscribers will also get digital access to The Courier-Mail, membership to The Courier-Mail’s +Rewards program, digital subscription access to Fox Sports, 52 weeks of digital access to The Washington Post, and three months access to the Presto Entertainment bundle.
Digital subscribers to ARM’s NSW titles The Northern Star and The Daily Examiner will receive unrestricted digital access to News Corps’ The Daily Telegraph and its rewards program.
APN is one of the region’s largest media companies operating 12 daily newspapers and more than 60 community newspapers and non-daily publications, mostly in Queensland. The ASX listed company closed its Toowoomba printing plant earlier this year. Industry analyst's expect further cooperation and consolidation in the sector when APN's CEO, Michael Miller, takes over as executive chairman of News Corp Australia later this year as incumbent Julian Clarke retires.