Rupert Murdoch has presumably run the numbers and thinks he can drive more revenue with a free Wall Street Journal site than a subscription model. Apparently the decision has been made.
The New York Times not long ago decided to abandon the paid membership program it was experimenting with, TimesSelect. There were very few successful subscription models online: the WSJ, consumer reports and, possibly, Zagat. One down.
We can safely say now that the subscription model is dead online. One day it may rise again, but for now it’s kaput.
