FT.com Announces Record Traffic Figures

FT.com has reported record traffic figures for January 2002, making it the world’s largest audited business website.

According to its latest ABCe audit, the online presence of the Financial Times registered over 55 million page impressions and 2.7 million unique users during January 2002.

The site’s number of unique users leapt 13% on the November 2001 figures and rose 37% on the figures for January 2001. Page impressions also increased by 15% on the ABCe audited figures for November 2001 and rose 29% on the same period last year.

Chief operating officer of FT.com, Zach Leonard, said: “The figures are a testament to the strength of our online editorial coverage of a range of stories, from the Enron scandal, to the collapse of the Argentinean economy.”

Pearson is considering introducing subscription charges for the FT.com’s premium content and is thought to be looking to charge around £100 for an annual subscription to the site in an attempt to capitalise on the high levels of traffic it receives.

The Wall Street Journal has been operating a subscription service for some years and News International introduced charges for The Times and Sunday Times online last year (see Times Online To Charge Users). The Telegraph and the Guardian are rumoured to be considering charging for premium content and according to Managing director of Hollinger Telegraph New Media, Hugo Drayton, “All online newspapers will be using 100% subscription models in the next twelve months” (see Telegraph Online Cuts Jobs).

Financial Times: 0207 873 3000 www.ft.com

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