Suggestion for the website

We're certainly not proposing putting a 'paywall' around this website, as some media owners have done.

However, we have had discussions about there being special subscriber areas with more features; nothing more than thoughts at the moment - when we have anything more concrete, you can be sure i'll let you know.

gel:

Hi

Is there any chance now or in the future the what hi fi magazine website will just be made accessible for the readers of the magazine?  ie if you go into a shop and buy the magazine for the month you then get a months access through a code or if you are a subscriber you get permanent access?

 Thanks

This is a subject probably as emotive as cables!

I can understand that if some of us pay for the magazine on a regular basis, there is an argument for that loyalty being rewarded.  However, given the feature-rich website that exists already for anyone who browses the Interweb, any restriction would be a retrograde step.  I applaud WHF's generosity in providing so much for free.  I think that adding extra features for subscribers is the way forward if any change is warranted.

I'd suggest that putting this forum behind a pay wall would kill it stone dead. There are many other hifi and av websites out there, after all.

A digital edition of the magazine available for a small fee would seem the better way to go. 

Clare Newsome:

We're certainly not proposing putting a 'paywall' around this website, as some media owners have done.

 

Shame i would definetely be in favour of one

However, we have had discussions about there being special subscriber areas with more features; nothing more than thoughts at the moment - when we have anything more concrete, you can be sure i'll let you know.

That sounds good

Thanks

Digital editions, subscriber areas under consideration as Clare says.

daveh75:

gel:

Hi

Is there any chance now or in the future the what hi fi magazine website will just be made accessible for the readers of the magazine?  ie if you go into a shop and buy the magazine for the month you then get a months access through a code or if you are a subscriber you get permanent access?

 Thanks

Why do you want the site hidden behind a paywall?

Hi Daveh75

Well i have been a reader virtually every month for about 10 years and even if i have not been a subscriber i would still buy the issue or borrow a copy of my dad or friend and when i joined the website i thought i would just been talking to other what hi fi readers all the time but 75% of the time i think i talk to people who are not.

That is why i ask the question.

Thanks

gel:

Is there any chance now or in the future the what hi fi magazine website will just be made accessible for the readers of the magazine?

The number of 'hits' on the website per month and the number of registered members would drop dramatically. (Followed shortly afterwards by the advertising revenue.)

The fees (from the subset of remaining members who are prepared to pay for access) would need to match the lost advertising.

Without any knowledge of figures involved, no-one (except Haymarket accountants) can say what the fees would need to be, but I will guess they would be more than the cost of picking up a copy of the magazine.

Also, the 'code' idea is flawed because people will just browse a copy of the mag to get it.

chebby:

gel:

Is there any chance now or in the future the what hi fi magazine website will just be made accessible for the readers of the magazine?

The number of 'hits' on the website per month and the number of registered members would drop dramatically. (Followed shortly afterwards by the advertising revenue.)

The fees (from the subset of remaining members who are prepared to pay for access) would need to match the lost advertising.

Without any knowledge of figures involved, no-one (except Haymarket accountants) can say what the fees would be, but I will guess they would be more than the cost of picking up a copy of the magazine.

Also, the 'code' idea is flawed because people will just browse a copy of the mag to get it.

 

 

Not if it was sealed which some issues are anyway.

Thanks

Why do you want to pay to have the website shut off to all but a subset of people who buy the magazine?

gel, we wouldn't run a code in the mag - sealed-bag issue or not - because that code would end up on other Forums within minutes; it's just not a viable way if you want to track/secure individual logins.

Any subscriber area would involve individual subscribers logging in with their exclusive details.

But, as mentioned, these are future plans. 

For now we are happy to be growing our online community, and reaching millions more people than we could hope to  address via our magazines, even with our family of international editions.

More than 5 million people have visited whathifi.com already this year; we're on target to smash 2009's figure of 6.4m unique users 

chebby:

Why do you want to pay to have the website shut off to all but a subset of people who buy the magazine?

chebby:

Why do you want to pay to have the website shut off to all but a subset of people who buy the magazine?

 

 

Well because then you would know you are talking to someone who cares about the magazine and like someone has already mentioned other forums are run that way too.

Clare Newsome:

gel, we wouldn't run a code in the mag - sealed-bag issue or not - because that code would end up on other Forums within minutes; it's just not a viable way if you want to track/secure individual logins.

Any subscriber area would involve individual subscribers logging in with their exclusive details.

But, as mentioned, these are future plans. 

For now we are happy to be growing our online community, and reaching millions more people than we could hope to  address via our magazines, even with our family of international editions.

More than 5 million people have visited whathifi.com already this year; we're on target to smash 2009's figure of 6.4m unique users 

That is great i look forward to that Clare

I also see the sense in drumming up business and reaching people far away too.

I just thought i would post the suggestion to see what was in the pipeline.

Thanks

gel:

chebby:

gel:

Is there any chance now or in the future the what hi fi magazine website will just be made accessible for the readers of the magazine?

The number of 'hits' on the website per month and the number of registered members would drop dramatically. (Followed shortly afterwards by the advertising revenue.)

The fees (from the subset of remaining members who are prepared to pay for access) would need to match the lost advertising.

Without any knowledge of figures involved, no-one (except Haymarket accountants) can say what the fees would be, but I will guess they would be more than the cost of picking up a copy of the magazine.

Also, the 'code' idea is flawed because people will just browse a copy of the mag to get it.

 

 

 

Not if it was sealed which some issues are anyway.

Thanks

But then my local Library has a copy on the shelves along with other mags........