Comments on: A simple graph shows why the Guardian’s future does look bleak

By: Stuart Ian Burns

Stuart Ian Burns — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:45:36 +0000

A lot of my Guardian consumption has migrated to the website, but I still buy the paper in the morning even though it's often left unopened because I've already read much of it online.

I know this isn't great for the environment but since the paper doesn't have any donation models or thank goodness a paywall, it does mean at least I have some way of paying them and their journalists for the content I consume.

By: Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:26:56 +0000

If a little bit of money doesn't match your costs, you go bankrupt. Innovation without a sustainable business plan can still lead to failed business.

By: Tom Whitwell

Tom Whitwell — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:37:43 +0000

I thought the Guardian's "What is our journalism worth? £2.39 for a lifetime supply" iPhone app was one of the turning points of this whole debate.

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:22:23 +0000

I think Kelvin's point, which started this, is that with a little bit of money they will be bankrupt. Which will be a shame.

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:20:26 +0000

True. Although the Daily Mail iphone app is £8.99 a year. Even that seems too cheap to me ...

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:20:24 +0000

Of course it doesn't, but a little bit of money is better than going bankrupt.

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:19:28 +0000

That doesn't mean it makes any money though ...

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:19:07 +0000

Ana: running websites is not free. You have to pay for servers, techies, designers, IAs, video rights, bandwidth ... I wrote about this once here: http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/6190-great-news-websites-are-completely-free-to-run

By: Robert Andrews

Robert Andrews — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:26:49 +0000

Well done for visualising it so starkly.
It's not "silly", it's real.
Of course, at least The Guardian is charging you *something* for the product you've used to replace print; not everyone is.
Also - you're doing them a favour by using the £3.99pa mobile version versus web - the ARPU on the mobile product is higher than on the web product.

By: Iain

Iain — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:15:00 +0000

Interesting - similar experience, I started reading the Guardian back in the late 70s and bought it pretty much everday up until about a year ago. No I only buy it on weekdays if I am commuting, (about 3 days a week) so I can read it on tube. (though even then I have often read some of the content on-line the night before)

Usually buy the Saturday edition.

I'm reading it online using my PC so haven't even paid for an App (no iPhone or iPad).

I'm sure thya must be looking hard at some sort of Paywall. I'd be comfortable with paying something to access the site.