Rupert Murdoch positive about the future online

Nu.nl reports that media mogul Rupert Murdoch spoke positively about the opportunities for media businesses to make money online, at the presentation of the annual accounts of News Corp. News Corp holds titles such as influential news papers New York Times and Wall Street Journal, as well as television station Fox. Murdoch said that: “Content isn’t just King anymore but rather the emperor of all things electronic

A recent study by GfK, commissioned by the Wall Street Journal, reveals that amongst Internet users, there is a significant user base that is willing to pay for that imperial content. The survey, held in de US and 16 European countries, questioned people on their Internet use and their willingness to pay for online content.

In spite of the stereotypical Dutch stinginess, The Netherlands score very high in their willingness to pay. 19% of the respondents would pay for content. The European average is 11%. Sweden scores highest. There, one of four Internet users thinks it is ok to pay for content.

The willingness to pay of respondents correlates strongly to their reported Internet activities. People that use the Internet for commerce or for e-services are more willing to pay than people who don’t .

A pdf with tabled results can be found here.

3 February 2010