US consumers come around to idea of having to pay for online content

New Media Age, October, 2003

US consumers are increasingly prepared to pay for online content, according to latest research from the Online Publishers Association.

Consumer spending on paid-for content in the US grew by 23% in the first half of 2003 compared with the same period last year, amounting to $748m (454m [pounds sterling]), the OPA's 'US Market Spending Report' found.

While paid-for content experienced its first ever quarter-on quarter decline in Q4 2002, expenditure rebounded by 10% in Q1 2003 to $368m (223m [pounds sterling]), a trend that continued in Q2, with sales reaching $380m (231m [pounds sterling]) in that quarter.

The top three paid-for content categories personals/dating, business/investment and entertainment/lifestyles--accounted for 65% of online...