"Broadcasting & Cable [B&C] and Multichannel News have erected pay walls around previously free Web content that could have been causing a drain on print subscriptions. Until Monday, the full contents of the weekly print products had been available gratis on each publication’s Web site."

So says a story in MediaDailyNews by David Goetzl.

To view all content on their websites, B&C and Multichannel News will each charge $199 per year, the article says, noting that "There is no option for someone to pay less than $199 just to view magazine contents on the Web."

According to the article, for $199 a subcriber to Multichannel News, for example, will get an "All Access" offering that includes, "print delivery; the Web entrée; free use of archives; and discounts on events hosted by" Multichannel News. 

A similar "All Access" offering would be given to B&C subscribers for their $199.

Also, according to the article, "Each magazine’s Web site will continue to post breaking news in real time that will be available for free."

The article notes that B&C and Multichannel News both used to be owned by Reed Business Information, and are now owned by New Bay.

Also, according to the story, " ‘Variety’ — a competitor to the two New Bay magazines still owned by Reed — erected a more stringent pay wall last year, allowing complete Web access only to subscribers. Non-subscribers can view just five articles a month on the Web site for free."