Internet news services may be causing controversy between the BBC and ITN (see BBC Makes Promises, ITN Makes Threats) but most of the UK public have no intention of replacing TV or newspapers with online news as their first source of information. What’s more, if they do go online, they won’t pay for their news.
News delivered across the internet may offer the possibility of instant updates, but 83% of people polled in a survey for business-to-business news and information site
Only 1% of the 1,000 people surveyed by Ipsos-RSL as part of the Capibus omnibus survey said that they used the internet as their main news source. TV news was the favourite for 68%, while national newspapers were preferred by 11%.
“The British public is in no rush to switch to news on the net, leaving plans for some high profile news sites looking distinctly threadbare,” said Allan Davies, CEO of just-sites.com. The survey found that only 3% of people would consider paying for an online newspaper or magazine. This could leave online services reliant on advertising for revenue.
The survey did hold some good news for online business news services, as one in five of the respondents who read trade publications as part of their job felt that the internet was the best way to receive news, primarily because it is faster.
Of those people, 37% felt that there were too many printed titles to cope with and 41% said it took longer than it used to to keep up with trade news. One in three business press readers had to sacrifice out of work hours to catch up on reading and 40% thought that traditional printed trade media provided news that was out of date.
Allan Davies, who has predicted that his business will show profit within 18 months said, “What seems clear is that people who need business news are much more likely to turn to the internet, and this is where the real business opportunities lie.”
Just-Sites.com: 0870 909 5159
