The Wirecutter, a site that reviews consumer products, has been acquired by The New York Times. It's not hard for a Times publisher to want to purchase such a high-margin, content generator. The Wirecutter could also add diversity to the New York Times’ digital subscription offerings.
The Wirecutter is a consumer products review website that focuses on technology. It's possible to imagine some of its offerings being worth a closer inspection. The company has made some small but significant changes to the way that it does business, aside from being a relatively simple review site. It has a new, shiny office space. While it's early days, the Times has been trying new ways to increase subscriptions, and make money. The new subscription model allows members to access some the best content.
The new subscription model will be introduced in stages. It will begin with mobile devices, which is the site's latest category. It used to be that you had to pay a lot to get a smartphone, but now, users can choose to buy one from any number of companies.
The Times also announced a new paywall program that allows consumers to pay $5 every four weeks for full access to its reviews, recommendations, and other content. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it is not the ad-generating revenue the newsroom wanted. The paper is making a big step towards diversifying its revenue sources, and this is an important milestone. Even though the Times has been making steady progress toward becoming a nationally recognized newsbrand, it's still too premature to predict if this deal is the final straw.
