AOL May Offer Content to Nonsubscribers
A behind-the-scenes technical change at America Online will allow the company to offer some of its content to nonsubscribers in an attempt to broaden AOL’s audience beyond its members-only “walled garden.”
By letting any Web surfer to access music, news or other material that was previously available only to members, AOL could attract more advertising revenue and promote its sagging subscription service.
AOL is tinkering with its formula because subscriber numbers continue to drop -- 24.3 million members in 2003, down by 2.2 million from the previous year.
AOL’s revenue fell 5% in 2003 to $8.6 billion, but the unit generated $663 million in operating profit for Time Warner Inc.
Time Warner shares rose 18 cents to $17.39 on the NYSE.
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