I just started reading the Straits-Times online site several months ago but will be dropping it from my reading list after March 15th: ST website to charge for access from Mar 15 - Feb 24, 2005.

I don't mind registering for newspaper sites, I don't mind the various marketing bits of information they ask for and generally supply valid information (not necessarily correct, but close enough). I only pay for two sites now: The Wall St. Journal and the South China Morning Post, and I may end up dropping either or both (oddly, although I've been a WSJ online subscriber for years, I restarted a paper subscription a couple years ago specifically to read the ads).

My readership of sites is driven almost entirely by RSS feeds these days,a dn that was one thing which attracted me to the STI site. While this means I don't spend a lot of time wading throuhg a site looking for articles to read, it does mean I read far more articles (and thus see far more advertisements which are in theory relevant to me and/or the article I'm reading). Now, if STI's costs are out of line they can do one of three things: cease their online operations (unlikely), charge for subscriptions (what they are doing) or raise their advertising rates. I'm assuming they've done a cost-benefit analysis and decided that fewer readers will generate enough revenue to offset the drop in advertising rates, as well that their advertisers refused to pony up more money.

The WSJ online model works (I assume they at least break even, a differing opinio is here) because they have an interested, specific audience. I suspect STI's switch will not bring the benefits they're seeking; mark me as a former reader come March 15^th, 2005.