Major German newspaper begins charging for web access

Dec 15, 2009, 12:28 GMT

Hamburg - Leading German newspaper, the Hamburger Abendblatt, began charging web visitors Tuesday as the country's media begins to turn away from what has been dubbed the 'culture of free' on the internet.

The main newspaper in Hamburg, Germany's second city, will charge 7.95 euros (11.60 dollars) per month for online access to its local news and back issues, but will keep national news free.

The newspaper belongs to the Axel Springer publishing house, which this month introduced a paid app, or special news software, allowing owners of the iPhone to read its mass-circulation newspaper Bild.

The Abendblatt said registered subscribers to its print edition would gain free access to all parts of its website.

In other countries, paid access to news has only had patchy success, but German newspapers say they must act to staunch losses.

'We've dared to take the initiative, because our news is too valuble to keep giving away,' said the Abendblatt deputy editor, Matthias Iken, in the announcement.