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BroadcastNow: Would you pay for something that is free?

BroadcastNow: Would you pay for something that is free?

ATV Today Editor Shaun Linden takes a look at Broadcast, a subscription magazine and online site for industry men and women.

Their website www.broadcastnow.co.uk hosts a variety of daily articles, with most of them having the little red ‘s’ next to the title. This means you have to be a paid subscriber to read the article. Try clicking it and you will receive the following message;

“You must be a paid subscriber to Broadcast magazine to read this article and receive complete, unrestricted access to broadcastnow.co.uk”

I completely understand that Broadcast is known for getting stories first, exclusive interviews and in-depth report and analysis. The problem has arisen where you have to be a paid subscriber to the site to read news which has come from press offices, widely available online for anyone to read. Do you actually get any more info then is stated by the press release issued by the broadcaster? Lets’ take a look.

The BBC Press office released information today that Tony Blackburn is to take over Dale Winton as host of Pick Of The Pops on BBC Radio 2. Click here to read it.

BBC Press Release:

Since launching Radio 1 in 1967 Tony Blackburn has long been associated with BBC Radio. Most recently he presented the UK’s Million Sellers Chart on Radio 2 over August Bank Holiday weekend, and he continues to present The Best Of Soul & Motown on BBC Radio London 94.9FM – where he’s been presenting for more than 20 years – on Sundays.

Lewis Carnie Head of Programmes, Radio 2, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Tony Blackburn to Radio 2 on a permanent basis. He is one of this country’s legendary broadcasters and brings a wealth of knowledge of popular music spanning the years. I’d like to thank Dale for being such a tremendous host of Pick Of The Pops for the last decade, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with him on future Radio 2 projects.”

Dale’s last edition of Pick Of The Pops will be broadcast on Saturday 30 October 2010.

Broadcast Article, which you have to be a paid subscriber to read:

Blackburn, 67, was famously the first presenter on air when Radio 1 launched in 1967. He hosted the station’s Sunday Top 40 countdown for nearly two and a half years, taking over from Simon Bates. Most recently he presented the UK’s Million Sellers Chart on Radio 2 over the August Bank Holiday weekend, and he continues to present The Best Of Soul & Motown on BBC London 94.9FM – where he has been presenting for more than 20 years – on Sundays.

Lewis Carnie, R2 head of programmes, said: “He is one of this country’s legendary broadcasters and brings a wealth of knowledge of popular music spanning the years.

“I’d like to thank Dale for being such a tremendous host of Pick Of The Pops for the last decade, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with him on future Radio 2 projects.”

Winton’s final Pick Of The Pops will be broadcast on October 30.

That’s just one example, but there are many other similar instances of standard press releases being placed behind a paywall. Is it right to have these sort of articles as paid subscription, when many other publications provide them for free. Are media professionals being ripped off?

Shaun Linden is ATV Today’s Editor

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