Rupert Murdoch thinks so. In fact, he's betting that folks will pay to watch all of his television properties on their respective websites.A friend of mine once suggested something like this. Basically, news would be free, but premium content online would come at a cost. Sort of like how stock quotes are delayed 20 minutes unless you pay a premium to see the prices instantly. And those with extreme political opinions, like sports fans, would pay any price to see their favorite commentators/players do their thing.
I'm ambivalent about this idea. I don't think it can be pulled off because at this stage people are too used to getting opinions for free online. However, if anybody can make this work, it's Rupert Murdoch.
Of course, this could also set the stage for a new player in the right-wing political commentary field. After all, if someone else offers the same service for less (such as free), where will most of the consumers go?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-06-2009 @ 9:59AM
Eric said...
You would have to pay me to watch his cable show.
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8-06-2009 @ 10:28AM
rick cokely said...
lol. I'm fairly sure most people that watch are getting paid. The only people I know that can stomach it are journalists watching to see what nonsense he says next.
8-06-2009 @ 11:12AM
Rebecca said...
That's not stupid!
*sarcasm*
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8-06-2009 @ 11:31AM
Fanny said...
Oh hell no
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8-06-2009 @ 11:49AM
bruce said...
I think it's a brilliant but ultimately flawed idea. You have to understand that the idiots who watch Fox News are incredibly devoted, it's the only channel most of then watch - they watch it to for two reasons. ONE, to reinforce their political views and fears (which makes them feel good about themselves), and TWO, to be able to hear the "Truth" about what the people they don't like are doing (the "MSM" is run by their enemies - the blacks, the jews, the mexicans, etc. - and only Fox News will tell them about how such people are actually evil communists who hate America, Jesus, football and beer). And of course hearing purported facts that "sound right" (even though they're actually wrong) makes the Fox News viewers feel good about themselves.
So the whole Fox News business model is based on providing a drug of sorts to cause a euphoric high in the minds of a certain type of really dumb, fearful, uneducated people. As long as the price is not too high, they will most certainly pay to continue getting this drug. A price in the $5.99/month or so price range will be no problem. 90% of Fox News viewers will happily write a check to continue getting the "Truth" (with the capital T) from Neil Cavuto, Brit Hume, and Bill O'Leilly. All these people are already giving money to their churches, so paying to hear false bullshit that makes them feel good is already a proven business model with these people. Fox News is a faith-based product. As long as profits are the bottom line, it makes sense to charge for it - giving it away for free is only valuable insofar as you are driven by ideology rather than profit. Murdoch has long proven that he doesn't care about the American politics displayed by Fox News - if he could make more money with a liberal, left-wing news station then that's what Fox News would be.
So why do I say this idea is it's ultimately flawed? Because a small percentage of Fox News viewer will be pissed off. They'll feel fake news tailored to their own ideology is a god-given right, not a privilege, and they'll slaughter anyone who gets between them and this "right." Fox News viewers are already more prone to violence than any other demographic and it won't take much for some disgruntled Fox News viewer who can't afford the PPV fee to take matters into his own hands and try to assassinate Rupert Murdoch, or anyone else standing between him and free right-wing propaganda.
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8-06-2009 @ 2:25PM
MK said...
I couldn't say it better myself! Thanks!
8-06-2009 @ 4:06PM
D-Bo said...
this sums it up quite well
8-06-2009 @ 12:34PM
const said...
Bruce said: "So the whole Fox News business model is based on providing a drug of sorts to cause a euphoric high in the minds of a certain type of really dumb, fearful, uneducated people."
wow, you come off as ignorant and bigoted. Way to go! Glad to see you're not brainwashed by the liberal establishment.
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8-06-2009 @ 2:27PM
MK said...
And you are NOT brainwashed Faux news to make such a statement?
8-06-2009 @ 12:48PM
Jimmy said...
No.
I don't watch it for free.
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8-06-2009 @ 1:48PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Yeh, good luck with that Rupert, and to show even more commitment and enhance his "exclusivity" take him off the television broadcast, too.
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8-06-2009 @ 5:25PM
R-Bro said...
I'd pay for his seat on the first rocket to the sun. Does that count?
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