With the ongoing debate about paywalls and imminent introduction of one by Robert Maxwell, I thought I'd take a look at what content is currently available from some of the other large media outlets.
I'm looking at this purely from a sports viewpoint, as an example of what's available to you, the average internet user.
Now, I don't have Sky Sports, so if I want to keep track of what's been going on in the NFL, which I do, I have to use www.NFL.com. The NFL website shows full video highlights of every post-season game, and a decent number of highlights from the regular season. They also make available a weekly discussion show, that airs in the USA on the NFL network.
The NFL also sell some of these highlights to the BBC, who make them available as embedded content on their website. I'll come back to the BBC later.
I'm also a huge rugby fan, so not having access to Sky Sports is a huge blow, as they hold a near monopoly on Rugby in England. Fortunately BBC Wales broadcasts the Magners League and Welsh Premiership, which I can Sky Plus, and S4C does likewise, albeit in Welsh, so I do get a decent amount of coverage. Sky's website offers online video of post match reaction from the Guinness Premiership, and offers highlights to account holders, regardless of whether they are paid up subscribers to Sky Sports.
The BBC, naturally, is highly unlikely to erect a Pay Wall, as they have previously stated that their online arm is paid for by the Licence fee. The BBC offer extended highlights of the Six Nations, Formula One and Football league online, as well as making available content from smaller niche sports.
Ultimately it looks like Murdoch is underestimating the diligence of web users in searching for the content they desire, and underestimating the proliferation of such content.
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