Anchorage Daily News Implements Paywall for Online Content

New subscription service for the state’s biggest newspaper

Tools

By Matthew F. Smith

ANCHORAGE - If you're used to reading the Anchorage Daily News online, you're going to have to start paying for it. Alaska's largest newspaper is now putting the majority of its content behind an online paywall.

If you want unlimited access to the paper online, you'll need a subscription.

In a note to subscribers, publisher Pat Doyle said more than 1.4 million people access the paper online and on mobile devices each month.

The paper is advertising digital-only packages starting at $1.54 a week, while a bundled “online and paper” subscription is billed as $2 a week. Existing subscribers have additional options.

Doyle declined to be interviewed today, but the editor of another online news outlet, the Alaska Dispatch, said it remains to be seen how much revenue can be gained from a paywall.

“Time will tell whether something like this will actually help them,” Tony Hopfinger said. “But all indications from folks I've talked to and the response we've got from Alaska Dispatch is that people are simply not going to pay for online access.” Hopfinger said the Dispatch, an online-only newspaper, is financed entirely through online advertising. He said the organization has never considered a paywall.

Casual readers will be able to access up to 15 articles a month without a subscription. More information on the various options for the paper’s new digital subscription can be found on its online FAQ.
 

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Jerome said on Thursday, Dec 27 at 10:25 PM

Bye Bye ADN. You are days if not weeks in some cases behind other online publications that. ahem.....dont charge to read them.

110110752
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Friday, Dec 28 at 1:01 AM

Barely worth reading at no charge, no way in hell would I PAY to read their recycled 'news'! Definitely out of touch with the times we live in. If they can't make it on advertising, then evidently the message from advertisers is clear as well.

110115611
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Hope said on Friday, Dec 28 at 12:16 PM

Good hope they go away and a less biased paper emerges.

110150405
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Alice said on Friday, Dec 28 at 8:27 PM

I have stopped going to the adn.com website, both for the level of their bias and for the annoying pop-up ads. The pay wall was just the final annoyance.

110168466
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sandi said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 11:52 AM

Good-by!

110195286
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Sandi said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 11:54 AM

Gonna charge to read your page? NO WAY...NOT WORTH IT!!!

110195336
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Quyaan said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 1:09 PM

I was wondering about that yesterday,. I guess I can remove them from my additional start up pages. bye bye ADN.

110196472
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

cw said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 4:37 PM

Many articles aren't worth reading for free. A couple of sentences linked to an AP article or another news outlet is not newspaper worthy!

110207595
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

alaskanguy said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 7:16 PM

I have subscribed for a couple years good statewide news and I love to print put the NYT crossword puzzles. It's worth it!

110213735
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Step Closer to Closing said on Saturday, Dec 29 at 9:41 PM

Someone said many years ago that a city with only one newspaper has none. Since ADN became the only newspaper in town, its decline has been steady. This move to charge for online access will be the final nail in the coffin. Ideally, if a newspaper is a good one, cost of issues should be nominal - advertising should pay the cost. As an old time newspaper reporter / editor at a major newspaper in the Lower 48, I recall being able to spend hours with the thick, meaty newspapers. Ten minutes is the maximum needed to read The Daily News even on a Sunday. How very sad. KTVA and KTUU will reap the benefits of this move by ADN. They generally have the news more quickly and complete than ADN anyhow.

110219915
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

TedtheBear said on Sunday, Dec 30 at 8:18 PM

I got banned from making comments on that website due to false pretense on their part. Why should I pay money if I can't even make a comment?

110268826
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

slant the news said on Monday, Dec 31 at 1:43 PM

well it's all a conglomeration now folks...ADN is owned by the folks that own KTUU and now KTVA...all driven by politics and making money off the weak and crucifying the innocent...what is new...lol...

110318645
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Gentlelight said on Tuesday, Jan 1 at 2:16 PM

BYE!

110389255
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Mike J said on Wednesday, Jan 2 at 2:01 PM

Yep, everyone expects everything for free.

110467995
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Jan 2 at 5:22 PM

I think probly not.They would have to get someone who can write a competent article to even consider paying that much.

110479005
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Dennis said on Thursday, Jan 3 at 12:43 AM

Pull there license to do business like rumrunners

110495011
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Bob said on Sunday, Jan 20 at 2:51 PM

My ADN paper susbscription expired last week and I'm not renewing it or paying a fee to view ADN online. Adios.

111785701
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anon said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 5:44 PM

Adios!

111949231
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

AKEcon said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 5:45 PM

Heeeeelllooooo AK Dispatch. Equal, if not better, substitute!!

111949282
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

AK Rural Resident said on Wednesday, Feb 20 at 12:16 AM

They are going to lose a lot of village viewers,which I would think is most of it's viewers.

114017811
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Kard said on Tuesday, Mar 19 at 4:37 PM

Yup...this will last maybe a month or two. The content just isn't worth it. Views will plummet, they won't be able to sell additional ad space, and voila, back to where it was.

116480221
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Overseas Reader said on Monday, Apr 8 at 1:19 PM

Can't believe this has happened! Loved to just quickly browsse the front page so see what has been happening in Anchorage and have done so from Australia for a number of years. To pay for a subscription it just not worth all the hassel. The majority of the news reported can be obtained from other sources. Would not get my monies worth so good bye ADN

117847421
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.