I'm more interested in how The Athletic thinks they're going to make a profit?
One person briefed on The Athletic's plans told BuzzFeed News the US-website is hoping to get 100,000 paid subscribers to fund its ambitious expansion into English football coverage.
Two sources said one subscription-price point put forward would see subscribers pay “about £4 a month… or some sort of package where a reader pays £50 a year”. One source described it as “Netflix-like” pricing.
“They’re banking on a passionate football supporter willing to fork out £4 a month for some scoops about their team, and quality feature and match-day writing,” the source said.
“If you look at the back of the fag packet maths, that would see the website funded by subscribers at about £5 million a year to pay the writers and office costs.”
It's pay to read, but I don't see people following journalists and paying to read their content. The papers will just replace them with others and life will go on.I'm more interested in how The Athletic thinks they're going to make a profit?
Yeah they’re all pretty generic and interchangeable. I’d say only Barney Ronay, Jonathan Liew and Ken Early are good enough writers that I’d choose to read their stuff purely because their name is on the byline.It's pay to read, but I don't see people following journalists and paying to read their content. The papers will just replace them with others and life will go on.
The Athletic have pretty good articles when it comes to American sports, so it's kind of tempting.That’s quite a list they’ve got there. I don’t know who’s paying subscriptions to read sports journalism, though. Is that something people still do?
Rebuilding.Shouldn't be too hard for British newspapers to replace them.
Except if they actually produce the type of content which is lacking in traditional sport journalism, I don't expect them to just churn out the same crapIt's pay to read, but I don't see people following journalists and paying to read their content. The papers will just replace them with others and life will go on.
100,000 subscribers isn't a lotThey signed a lot of big name NFL writers, but I have never been tempted to pay for their content
I'd say the vast majority of people will never know, partly because they don't care who the journalist is and partly because they won't pay a subscription to find out if it's any better.Except if they actually produce the type of content which is lacking in traditional sport journalism, I don't expect them to just churn out the same crap
I'd be shocked if they got that number for football coverage alone. I don't see many people over this side of the Atlantic paying for it.
I'm interested if you provide behind the scene content.I should charge people to read my incredible insight on here.
100,000 people, they don't need the vast majority to be successful.I'd say the vast majority of people will never know, partly because they don't care who the journalist is and partly because they won't pay a subscription to find out if it's any better.
I'll just make it up like most of the hacks listed in the OP.I'm interested if you provide behind the scene content.
They also provide lots of stats and depth charts, right? Thats what most people who subscribe to them tend to rave about. I'd imagine that it's invaluable for their fantasy teams.Over here in the US, The Athletic has taken over by storm. I can’t speak on their coverage of other sports, but they more or less snatched up all of the premier NHL hockey journalists. I’m a subscriber and can tell you that the coverage difference is night in and day. Long gone are the boring and personality lacking book report style reporting you normally see in sports journalism.
I agree with your general point, but for me seeing Ronay's name makes me far, far less likely to read an article as I know it'll be low on insight and heavy on laboured and supposedly hilarious extended metaphor - his one trick that he uses in every article. I view him less as a journalist than as a sports humourist.Yeah they’re all pretty generic and interchangeable. I’d say only Barney Ronay, Jonathan Liew and Ken Early are good enough writers that I’d choose to read their stuff purely because their name is on the byline.
Hmmm....5th August it launches. Some massive names and podcasts coming as well. Massively high profile journalists and fantastic quality articles.
I know there's a United fan who subscribes to The Times and posts the United related articles on twitter (writtenoff_mufc). Don't think he's done it in a while, whether that is because it is the off-season or The Times tracked him down and told him to stop it/cancelled his subscription I'm not sure.The way the world is going that everyone now wants to get paid for what they post. I'm excited for the days when Instagram and twitter cost money to follow certain people. That will be fun.
I'd be interested to know how much money papers like the Telegraph make from subscriptions? I know one person that does and they just send us the text of the articles anyway. I didn't realise for sport people like to read in depth stuff fully. Usually i just take the key points aka he scores a lot of goals, who won, how much will they cost, when are we playing.
Daniel Taylor is pretty good but I agree with your general point. Is anyone paying to read Amy Lawrence?Yeah they’re all pretty generic and interchangeable. I’d say only Barney Ronay, Jonathan Liew and Ken Early are good enough writers that I’d choose to read their stuff purely because their name is on the byline.
Yeah I’ve gone off Ronay, and I once considered him very good. The breaking point for me actually was the Guardian podcast when we beat Spurs in the semi final and he came across as such a massive bellend I was siding with Barry GlendenningI agree with your general point, but for me seeing Ronay's name makes me far, far less likely to read an article as I know it'll be low on insight and heavy on laboured and supposedly hilarious extended metaphor - his one trick that he uses in every article. I view him less as a journalist than as a sports humourist.
I look forward to the investigation to find out who Wumminator is when this launchesNot sure about that.
This Athletic thing seems interesting. August 5th is when they're proper launching it over here I have heard. Be interesting to see who else signs up.
What? These aren't some guys posting pictures of their lunch. They are professional journalists, writing is their job. Wouldn't you want to get paid for your job?The way the world is going that everyone now wants to get paid for what they post. I'm excited for the days when Instagram and twitter cost money to follow certain people. That will be fun.
I'd be interested to know how much money papers like the Telegraph make from subscriptions? I know one person that does and they just send us the text of the articles anyway. I didn't realise for sport people like to read in depth stuff fully. Usually i just take the key points aka he scores a lot of goals, who won, how much will they cost, when are we playing.