View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Digital Journalism
May 28, 2015updated 23 Aug 2022 7:19pm

Newsquest’s Northern Echo becomes latest UK regional daily to adopt metered website paywall

By Dominic Ponsford

Darlington-based daily the Northern Echo has announced it is to adopt a metered paywall.

The Newsquest-owned title is to limit free access to ten articles per month. Digital subscriptions will be offered access at £1 a week, with a £3.47 price for combined digital and print access.

The Northern Echo had an average print circulation of 28,810 last year (down 10.6 per cent) and attracted an average of 50,145 daily web browsers according to ABC (up 47.5 per cent).

The Newsquest-owned Herald in Glasgow launched a metered paywall three years ago and now claims to have more than 10,000 online subscribers.

It allows readers to access three articles a month for free and a further three articles if they register.

In February, the Jersey Evening Post puts its content behind a metered paywall, charing readers £4.99 per month to access more than ten articles.

The Press and Journal in Aberdeen placed its content behind a metered paywall in May, charging readers who want to access more than ten articles per month.

Content from our partners
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition

Two UK national newspapers have launched metered paywalls: the Financial Times and the Teleghraph.

The FT now claims to have more than 500,000 digital subscribers. It limits free access to three articles per month.

The Telegraph limited free website access to 20 articles per month in March 2013. It has never revealed how many digital subscribers it has managed to sign up.

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network