13 votes

The Atlantic launches new subscription plans and introduces a metered model

11 comments

  1. [7]
    skybrian
    Link
    It seems like a big price increase. I'm currently paying $1.99/month for a Google Play Newstand subscription. (Even though I use the website; it seemed like the easiest way to give them some money.)

    It seems like a big price increase. I'm currently paying $1.99/month for a Google Play Newstand subscription. (Even though I use the website; it seemed like the easiest way to give them some money.)

    2 votes
    1. [6]
      electricemu
      Link Parent
      That is a large price difference for a single publisher. If enough publications follow suit then the content quality from the surviving ones may increase dramatically. My fear is ending up in...

      That is a large price difference for a single publisher.

      If enough publications follow suit then the content quality from the surviving ones may increase dramatically.

      My fear is ending up in "news bundle subscriptions" like cable television. Maybe those types of subscriptions are better suited for publications though.

      2 votes
      1. [4]
        skybrian
        Link Parent
        I would be happy to see something more like Spotify for news.

        I would be happy to see something more like Spotify for news.

        3 votes
        1. bbvnvlt
          Link Parent
          Blendle is trying to build that. First they were 'iTunes for news' (~10 cents per article, prepaid). Now they're going 'Spotify for news' (flat fee subscription, unlimited access). It's a Dutch...

          Blendle is trying to build that. First they were 'iTunes for news' (~10 cents per article, prepaid). Now they're going 'Spotify for news' (flat fee subscription, unlimited access).

          It's a Dutch startup. Here they have super coverage of publications. They're expanding to the US. I see a lot of big-name publications on the launch page.

          2 votes
        2. [2]
          Chris
          Link Parent
          Isn’t that what Apple News+ is pushing for?

          Isn’t that what Apple News+ is pushing for?

          1. skybrian
            Link Parent
            Maybe, but it is only available on Macs or iOS, so it's not very interesting.

            Maybe, but it is only available on Macs or iOS, so it's not very interesting.

            2 votes
      2. KapteinB
        Link Parent
        Scroll is kinda that I guess. I certainly hope I won't have to pay for both Scroll and The Atlantic to get through the paywall.

        Scroll is kinda that I guess. I certainly hope I won't have to pay for both Scroll and The Atlantic to get through the paywall.

        1 vote
  2. [3]
    babypuncher
    Link
    I was hoping their "metered model" would be a pay-as-you-go option rather than just an article limit before you have to buy a subscription. I would love to pay per-article I read on many news...

    I was hoping their "metered model" would be a pay-as-you-go option rather than just an article limit before you have to buy a subscription.

    I would love to pay per-article I read on many news sites. I feel like having to subscribe to a site locks me in to just a few news sources, which I naturally results in me creating my own echo chamber.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      Luna
      Link Parent
      The problem with the pay as you go model (in my mind) is how do you know when to charge someone? When they get 50% through the article? (What if it's a short article or they have a vertical 4k...

      The problem with the pay as you go model (in my mind) is how do you know when to charge someone? When they get 50% through the article? (What if it's a short article or they have a vertical 4k monitor and don't have to scroll to view 50% of the article?) If an article is mostly fluff, can I request a refund? Also, if it's a really long article, can they charge more? (That would seem to create an incentive to add tons of fluff.)

      1 vote
      1. nacho
        Link Parent
        Like with books, movies, or physical products: If you want to go beyond the cover/packaging. It's up to the publisher if they want to give you a picture for free, have the pay option be after 500...

        how do you know when to charge someone?

        Like with books, movies, or physical products: If you want to go beyond the cover/packaging.

        It's up to the publisher if they want to give you a picture for free, have the pay option be after 500 characters, show you image captions, the lead or whatever.


        The expectation that you can get news for free isn't sustainable. The only way to accomplish that is to have government funding, or a rich donor class. That's not a model all media outlets can adopt.

        If we want good journalism, (I feel the fourth estate is important) then journalists need to be paid. We need good journalists and they need competitive pay so they don't end up doing other things instead.

  3. Litmus2336
    Link
    I'm a well known Atlantic fanboy so I'm already paying for this, but I don't know if many non-subscribers will join up because of it.

    I'm a well known Atlantic fanboy so I'm already paying for this, but I don't know if many non-subscribers will join up because of it.

    1 vote