Member Article

Print spending cut back amid free online news

More than a quarter of people have cut back spending on magazines and newspapers in the economic downturn in favour of free online content, a study has shown.

But as more news outlets consider charging for their internet offering, the report shows there is little appetite for subscription services in the immediate future.

Only 11% of consumers said they paid for any online media and of those who did not currently pay, only a further 11% said they might begin any sort of subscription in the next 12 months.

The figures were compiled by YouGov in a survey commissioned by financial firm KPMG and show 28% have reduced newspaper and magazine purchases in favour of free online sources since the recession began.

Apparently the pattern is unlikely to reverse dramatically when things pick up financially.

Only 3% of those who had cut back said they would return to their previous spending levels.

Of those that do spend on online media, 21% paid for online TV, 19% for on-demand films and 17% on music. Just 7% paid for any online newspapers or magazine content.

KPMG’s Media and Entertainment Barometer found those who had paid for any online content in the past month had spent far less than they would have done for traditional media. The typical spend for new media for the month would have been below £2, while traditional media spending would have been between £5 and £20.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .