Folha changes the limit on free internet access to 20 articles

03/05/2013 - 09h14

Since the 1st of this month, readers of the Folha site can access up to 20 articles per month without paying, and not 40. Now access is free up to ten stories or columns, and from 11 to 20 requires the user to fill out a short registration. From 21 articles on, he is asked to subscribe.

The measure applies to content in Portuguese. There is no limit for the texts published in English or Spanish. Nothing changes for Folha subscribers to either print or digital editions, or to subscribers to UOL, a Folha Group company, who still have access to all articles. For registered users, current username and password remain valid.

Folha was the first Brazilian newspaper to adopt the porous paywall, which allows free access to a certain number of pages.

In the New York Times, which popularized the system, it is ten per month. Other newspapers in the country are adopting some type of registration or payment.

Folha is now the largest Brazilian newspaper in number of digital subscriptions: 45,300 on average in January according to the Circulation Verification Institute (IVC).

Translated by DAVE WOLIN