The Telegraph is to follow in the footsteps of its adversaries by charging internet users to access the content it publishes online.

Both the Daily and Sunday editions are to introduce the new paywall on their UK website after a ‘metered’ strategy was tried out on The Telegraph’s international site.

While users will be allowed free access to 20 stories every month, they will then be offered a choice of two payment packages – each with a 30-day trial before any payment is taken.

One option, the ‘Telegraph Web Pack’, will allow the user to access the site’s content on an unrestricted basis, as well material on the group’s smartphone app, for a monthly fee of £1.99 or an annual charge of £20.

The other package, the ‘Digital Pack’, comes with a monthly charge of £9.99 or a yearly fee of £99. On top of the standard content access, users can download the week’s newspapers in tablet format and will be signed up to a loyalty club.

Telegraph Media Group has said that, during the international trial, 90% of those who opted in for the 30 days’ free access went on to subscribe and pay for one of the services.

Tony Gallagher, The Daily Telegraph’s editor, said:

“The Telegraph publishes the finest writers in Britain. We want to develop a closer rapport with our digital audience in the UK, and we intend to unveil a number of compelling digital products for our loyal subscribers in the months ahead.”

While the move is significant in the world of news, it also puts further focus on the shift in popularity from traditional media to online content. Business owners should take note of how eager and willing consumers are to access their news on computers, tablets and smartphones; even when a monetary cost is introduced.

Graeme Parton

Graeme has experience creating content for online sources and for the radio, and at university he studied Multimedia Journalism.