News Corp to charge for access to its websites

London, Aug 6 (ANI): Global media mogul Rupert Murdoch has signaled that The Times and The Sun would begin charging for access to their websites within months, saying that quality journalism must come at a price.

"Quality journalism is not cheap, and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalising its ability to produce good journalism," The Independent quoted Murdoch, as saying.

Murdoch further revealed that plunging revenues from his newspapers had pushed the company into the red.

Murdoch's lieutenants are still to decide on how much the online newspaper readers would be charged and for what sort of content.

Murdoch said that he was not scared of losing readers due to this decision.

"If we are successful, we will be followed by all," he said.

The plan to charge for online news is being hatched by a team of Murdoch's senior lieutenants, including his son James, and Rebekah Wade, the editor of The Sun.

Fees would be introduced by the end of News Corp's financial year, which runs until next June.

The latest development could also mean the start of charges to access Sky News on the internet.

Meanwhile, it is believed that the same online strategy would be adopted at News Corp's US businesses, which include the Fox News cable channel and The New York Post newspaper.

At the moment only the Wall Street Journal charges for access to its website. Murdoch had bought the newspaper in 2007. (ANI)