Murdoch's decision to charge for access to News Corp. websites opposed

Sydney, Aug. 9 (ANI): Readers of news.com.au, a website owned by Aussie media mogul Rupert Murdoch, have opposed Murdoch's announcement that pay walls would be erected around all news websites by News Corporation.

A comment thread attached to a report about the announcement contained numerous replies from readers, who opposed the move and threatened to quit News Corp websites when the charges are applied.

"I'm clearing my bookmarks right now. Bye Bye," The Sydney herald quoted a reader's reaction in the thread.

Earlier, Murdoch had 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," Murdoch had said.

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

Murdoch had also 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.

It is also 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. (ANI)