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Gordon Brown Paywall

Gordon Brown's paywalls comments cause controversy

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

April 13, 2010 | 2 min read

Much has been written today about Gordon Brown's comments that paywalls won't work. However, one channel has been silent: The TimesOnline.

His views are at odds with those of Rupert Murdoch, who is planning to put the content of his newspapers behind pay walls soon. Obviously, it is not the only grounds for disagreement the two have.

Which is perhaps why one channel that has not covered Brown’s paywall comments is the TimesOnline.

But what exactly did Brown say to the Radio Times? “People have got used to getting content without having to pay. I don’t think you are going to be able to put things behind paywalls in the way that people think. People will pay for certain things, and should pay for certaijn things, but I think there’s a whole sort of element of communication that’s got to be free. People mind paying for basic news.”

Ironically those wishing to read this article online might be disappointed. The Radio Times is not available on the web, never mind being hidden behind a paywall.

The row generated a few Twitter comments. Typical of those who supported Brown was: “Is this the first sensible thing that Gordon Brown has ever said?” posted by @gregwallis.

@alexguest was not so supportive: “Why is Gordon Brown getting involved in the newspaper paywall debate? Whether people pay or not is a matter for the market, not politics.”

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