America Online unit to reduce subscription costs in Britain; an effort to stem the loss of market share to low-cost rivals
Article Abstract:
America Online Europe's (AOL) British unit AOL U.K. has plans to lower its monthly subscription price to stem market-share loss to leader Freeserve PLC. The price reduction in the UK is a major step because Internet access there is not as cheap as it is in the US and charges are levied by the Internet service provider and by-the-minute for local phone calls. Freeserve PLC does not charge for providing access, but instead shares a revenue-percentage with the telephone company providing the phone service. AOL, which introduced Netscape Online (a subscription-free service) not too long ago, is now seen as undermining its own partner service, but AOL insists the two services are subscribed to by different users - Netscape by budget users and AOL for users who want more content.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Slate drops its on-line subscription fee; Microsoft's electronic magazine gives up on a 10-month experiment
Article Abstract:
For $19.95 a year, users can still subscribe to receive Slate in e-mail format and have access to the site's archives. Publisher Scott Moore attributed the decision to wider Web economic trends. These forecast advertising revenue growing faster (from $1.8 bil, 1998, to $3.1 bil, 1999) than subscriptions, which seem to work only for pornography and investment sites. Under the current Web model for general content sites, free sites get more viewers, and can charge higher advertising rates, which more than offset any loss in subscription revenue.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Ms. is bought by a concern led by Steinem
Article Abstract:
MacDonald Communications Corp., owner of Working Woman, Working Mother and Ms. magazines, sold the latter to Gloria Steinem and other investors for $3 million. The investor group operates Liberty Media for Women and plans to reactivate the stalled women's magazine that was founded in 1972. Since 1990 the magazine has carried no advertising, supported solely by subscription and newsstand sales. Current circulation is only 200,000, down from 1989's 540,000.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1998
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: A group is making a multiyear effort to show the importance of ads to marketers and consumers. Madison Ave. is a hall of mirrors: advertising about advertising makes comeback in the 90's
- Abstracts: American Home withdraws new drug to ease pain, after death of 4 patients. Strong Viagra sales propel Pfizer to 37% gain in quarterly profit
- Abstracts: Prison concern agrees to settle inmate lawsuit. Bankers Trust shares decline 7.9% as Fitch lowers debt rating
- Abstracts: General Motors is significantly increasing its efforts to aim pitches at black consumers. Cadillac signs a long-term accord for signs in Times Square
- Abstracts: Trading in bonds on line at least; signals of revolution for a huge market. Electronic middleman for mortgages; on-line service lets borrower initiate deal