Most consumers 'willing to pay' for online news

With several news providers planning to start charging for access to their online articles, a new survey has shown that most consumers would be willing to pay.

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that media companies could actually benefit from a major profit boost if they do adopt the paid for model.

Indeed, some 48 per cent of consumers in the UK and the US said they would pay a small monthly sum to receive news on their computers or mobile devices.

In Europe, the figure was higher at more than 60 per cent.

The survey also revealed that the average monthly sums consumers would hand over ranged from $3 (£1.80) in the US to $7 (£4.20) in Italy.

John Rose, a senior partner at BCG, said: "Contrary to conventional wisdom, consumers are willing to pay for meaningful content."

While he acknowledged that they are not willing to pay much, the money generated could help to offset falls in advertising revenue.

The findings of the survey could be good news for those seeking media jobs with major news providers, particularly since growing numbers are considering charging for content.

Rupert Murdoch has made clear his intention to put fee structures in place for access to the online version of News International's publications, which include the Times, the Sun and the News of the World.

Written by Gemma Roskell

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