Talcual follows El Nacional into big league of internet site subscriptions

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Talcual afternoon tabloid has been quick to follow El Nacional in reducing its Internet media site to subscriptions. It may be worth noting that the tabloid, whose editor is former guerrilla and government minister, Teodoro Petkoff, was also quick off the mark to imitate El Nacional.com's web design a couple of months ago. 

• According to an advert announcing the measure, the site receives almost a million clicks a month (900,000 to be exact). 

The site offers three plans: three-monthly at $17.50 or 28,000 bolivares ... six-monthly $29.75 or 47,000 bolivares and annual for $44.50 or 71,200 bolivares. 

The means of payment is by credit card and while economic observers suggest that the tabloid will not break even opening subscriptions they say they admire the editor and shareholders for giving it a go, despite a downturn in adverts and revenues from Venezuelan companies.