Wegener-sites and apps to go behind paywall – update

Mecom, the owner of the Dutch krantenbedrijf Wegener, a betaalmuur introduce. It is unclear what newspapers behind a paywall, but it is certain, however, that the time of paid apps get.

In a statement late Mecom know that the ‘all platforms’ a betaalmuur going to introduce. For the ten most important titles of the company are already mobile apps on the way for which must be paid; iPad apps come first, followed by Android and html5 apps. According to a spokesperson of Mecom will the apps include content from the newspapers contain, but also ‘additional content’.

Wegener is the largest part of Mecom and provides daily newspapers as The Stentor, Tubantia, Eindhovens Dagblad and BN/De Stem. Also that newspapers with a paywall, let the Mecom spokesman know. “We have not decided yet, or for all the content must be paid, or that a part of the messages is still free to read remains,” he says.

What content exactly is behind a paywall, is the question. It may be that for all the news must be paid on or only for more valuable content such as long in-depth articles. Another option is that a reader with a certain number of articles free to read, before he has to pay. Among others, The New York Times works with such a model.

In addition to the introduction of the paywall, there significant cuts, that 70 million should produce. Wegener announced last week already dismissed. The company is struggling with disappointing results, partly because of declining ad revenue.

In the Netherlands, The Financieele Dagblad and Nederlands Dagblad a betaalmuur introduced. The Telegraph gave earlier about such a betaalmodel to think.

Update, 11:57: A spokesman of Mecom to let you know that not yet been decided whether the web sites fully behind a betaalmuur, or only a part of the content. His comments are in the piece processed.