The New York Times is preparing to introduce multiple subscription packages for access to the paper's website and other digital content, kicking off the biggest test to date of consumers' willingness to pay for news they're accustomed to getting free. Under the new system, expected to be rolled out next month, the Times will sell an Internet-only subscription for unlimited access to the Times site, as well as a broader digital package that bundles the Times online with its application on the iPad, according to a person familiar with the matter. Subscribers to the print edition of the paper will get full online privileges at no additional cost, Times executives have said.

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In the coming weeks, News Corp. is set to unveil one of its more audacious content bets in recent years: The Daily, a newspaper designed for the iPad and the generation of tablet devices it inspired.

Conceived by News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, who negotiated directly with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the publication breaks new ground in a couple of ways. First, it's one of the biggest bets on traditional journalism in years on any platform -- 100 writers, editors and designers have been hired for the project -- since Conde Nast sunk $100 million into Portfolio magazine.

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Apple launched its iAd advertising platform today for the iPad, and the bar to entry is US$1 million, paidContent reported. This means marketers must pay at least $1 million to be allowed into the iAd system to begin with.

Marketers must also give "a good deal" of creative control over to Apple, the article stated. "iAds is meant to be an event, something special, at least for now." For example, it may be perfect for advertising a movie, but less so for other products.

The first iAd for the iPad launched yesterday, and advertises the upcoming Disney film "Tron Legacy," and includes graphics, touch navigation and video, Advertising Age reported. It has almost 10 minutes of video, as well as images from the movie, a theater locator with showtimes, and a preview of the movie's soundtrack and the option to purchase it on iTunes without leaving the ad.

In a move aimed at promoting its new paid app, German publisher Axel Springer AG has blocked the iPad browser from viewing the website of its newspaper Bild, FoxBusiness.com reported Wednesday.

The subscription to the app, which is available in iTunes, costs €0.79 a week, €12.99 a month or €129.99 for a year, the media company informed in a press release. Named Bild HD, the appllication includes articles published on Bild's 18 regional print editions, multimedia features and videos.

Photo Source: Benm.at
"We are encouraged by the experience of News Corp.," said Chief Executive Officer Mathias Doepfner, according to FoxBusiness.com. However, the online version of Bild will remain free for those who visit the website through a PC or mobile phone.

Doepfner also said the company, which already launched an iPhone app, will soon developed paid applications for Samsung and Google tablets, El Mundo pointed out.