Area Gannett papers start online fee

GREEN BAY - Area Gannett-owned newspapers are starting new subscription models, which include fees for unlimited access to their websites.

“To get to the right pricing model has taken a while for a number of media companies if you will,” said Kevin Corrado, the president and publisher for the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

For every 30 days, people will be restricted to ten free articles on each of Gannett’s Wisconsin newspapers’ websites. Unlimited access to each site will cost $12 per month. Home delivery subscribers will have unlimited access, but their monthly price is going up.

At the Press-Gazette, Corrado says the price hike is the first in more than four years. Seven-day delivery was about $17 per month. It will now cost $22 or $24 depending on payment type.

In Northeast Wisconsin, besides the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton’s Post-Crescent, The Oshkosh Northwestern, Fond du Lac’s The Reporter and Manitowoc’s Herald Times Reporter will take on new payment models.

“Our costs have gone up,” said Corrado.

Gannett has already rolled out similar plans to about half of its 80 U.S. markets. Since then, Gannett reports its circulation volume has been down 5% on Sundays and 7% on weekdays. However, executives expect the new subscription models to provide $100 million in additional revenue starting next year.

“This community is still very much ink on paper and likes that print,” said Corrado.

Corrado hopes that holds true online. The new subscriptions are already available for purchase.

Obituaries and the classified section will still have free access.

People who have unlimited online access will be able to use it from five different devices.

Subscribers' rates won't change until their next billing cycle.