We do not discuss that website on ours.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
riogrande5761The cost is very modest IIRC.
I pretty much agree with that. What irks me a little is that it seems some of the content links to other places, which also require a paid subscription to view.
I would hope so since so much of the content is taken from the user forum or otherwise donated (or aquired cheaply).
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I remember back in the day when cable TV came along, that the subscription was suppossed to eliminate the ads which peppered the antenna based TV system. Then came ads on cable.
Then the internet was introduced with a fee, and along came even more ads.
I'll be surprised if any type of screen media doesn't always eventually end up with having ever increasing subscription fees and more and more ads, despite whatever the intended plan is.
No different than a monthly magazine. Its fine. But don't be fooled into thinking both won't always be present.
- Douglas
I'm not sure of the conditions which led to this change but I notice in MR that there had been less ads than in the past ...
That's pretty much it ...
chutton01I believe there was a write-up when they announced this (in August? July? - hmm, quick search looks like it was mentioned in June of this year) where they mentioned that an ad-based system was no longer working for them. It was also mentioned that the "Forever Free" tagline was removed in 2015 or so. "Forever" used to last much longer back in the day...
Yes, it has already been thoroughly explained in some topics there as you mentioned. This is not news to those who read the forums there.
In a nutshell, it's the continuing changes in revenue model from advertising shifting from print media to online media like MRH and since many companies can now use social media, forums and other online outlets, they are even moving away from advertising money with online magazines like MRH. With everless revenue from advertisers, MRH magazine is going to subscription model for their full content and a free version with less content. The cost is very modest IIRC.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I believe there was a write-up when they announced this (in August? July? - hmm, quick search looks like it was mentioned in June of this year) where they mentioned that an ad-based system was no longer working for them. It was also mentioned that the "Forever Free" tagline was removed in 2015 or so. "Forever" used to last much longer back in the day...
I see where Joe Fugate's MRH online magazine is going to a two-tier system where a smaller version of it is free and a more expansive versión requires a paid subscription. I'm not sure of the conditions which led to this change but I notice in MR that there had been less ads than in the past -particularly old larger advertisers like Trainworld out of New York. I noticed the same thing gradually occurring in MRH.
Cedarwoodron