>>Is now going or has gone subscription only.
>>
>>www.thetimes.co.uk now takes you to a registration page.
>>
>>I wonder how many of the other papers will follow suit.
>>
>>Nick
>
>Paid subscription to on line newspapers was tried here in Norway by a few papers some years ago, but they had to give it up.Only a handful of subscribers paid, and only for a short period. Too many free alternatives...

It comes down to content. Does the website offer enough unique content that people are willing to pay to receive?
IIRC the New York Times tried and failed at this because their content (non editorial page) was not unique and people weren't willing to pay. Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal has been operating with a partial subscription model quite successfully.

There are plenty number of successes and failures on the web with pay models. Like every other product the consumer votes with their pocketbook.