What took so long? … As ClickZ reported this week, Time
magazine’s website is testing the notion of making premium
(subscriber-only) content available for free if readers agree to first
view special advertising. For the “Person of the Year” cover story from
the magazine, Time.com site visitors can read it for free after they
view a multi-page, full-screen interactive ad from auto maker Chrysler.
They’ll also get 24-hour access to the magazine’s full archive of
articles.
Time.com is using technology from Ultramercial, which also is used by the online magazine Salon.
Salon, which locks down much of its content behind a paid
subscription wall, has been letting non-subscribers access its material
via a “day pass” since early 2003. Viewing a special ad gets you the
day of free access.
I’ve long been puzzled that more website publishers didn’t copy Salon‘s approach. Perhaps it’s finally beginning to catch on.
