One point to make very clear on here is that the Forum will NOT be affected by these changes.
Can I ask that any discussion of these changes be kept to this thread or communicated with me directly? You can contact me on Simon.Grayson@haymarket.com and I'll be happy to discuss any aspect of these changes.
Here are the answers to a few questions you may have about the changes...
What’s changing from 1st August?
Non-subscribers will be limited to reading 50 news stories per month. Once you’ve reached this number, you won’t be able to read any more news stories unless you subscribe to AUTOSPORT+ or wait until the counter resets on the first of the following month.
Which parts of the site are free?
50 news stories per month, the forums, the live coverage of Grands Prix and low resolution versions of our galleries.
Also, promoted and sponsored content such as the AUTOSPORT Awards, the Castrol EDGE Driver Rankings, the Castrol EDGE Grand Prix Predictor, the AUTOSPORT Directory and the recruitment section are all free.
What content does AUTOSPORT already charge for?
Our premium features and columnists, our high resolution galleries, the FORIX database and the digital replica of the magazine. We also have Apps for both iPhone and Android available for a small fee.
I'm already an AUTOSPORT+ subscriber, does this change affect me?
No, if you're already a subscriber you will still be able to access an unlimited number of news stories as well as the additional premium content.
Why does AUTOSPORT need to charge for content when so many other sites are free?
AUTOSPORT has journalists in motor racing paddocks around the world. This includes every F1 race but also includes plenty of other series. We have been investing in the highest quality writers for over 60 years and need to continue to invest to make sure that we can offer the best insight as well as the most reliable up to the minute breaking news.
What counts towards my 50 stories?
New stories as well as stories from the archive. If you have read a story already during the month and you go back to read it again, it won’t be counted a second time.
Isn’t 50 stories quite a lot?
Yes, and the vast majority of visitors to the site won’t reach this number. We want to make sure that AUTOSPORT is still free to most of its users, but we’re asking our heaviest users to contribute towards the running of the site.
How much does subscription cost? Will there be a cheaper “news only” option?
The basic subscription package is £46 a year. We aren’t introducing a new option to just subscribe to the news as we feel that £46 a year already represents good value, and anyone who is reading more than 50 stories a month will benefit from the other premium content they get with their subscription.
What if I want a digital copy of the magazine?
Bundled packages are available with access to both AUTOSPORT+ and a digital version of the magazine. This digital replica can be downloaded as a PDF or viewed as a pageturner in your browser. Coming soon, we will also be offering a package deal where you can get access to AUTOSPORT+ and also the HD iPad version which is an enhanced version of the magazine including some extra content.
Can I subscribe for less than a year?
All of our subscription options are available on a monthly basis as well as an annual one. It costs a bit more to keep a monthly subscription running for a whole year than to buy an annual subscription, but you can cancel at the end of any month if you choose this option. For details of all of our subscription options, click here.
How do I cancel my subscription?
When you’re logged in, go to the Edit Account section (you can find this in the blue bar at the top of the homepage) and you will see the option to cancel your auto-renewal. Once you’ve cancelled this, or if you don’t have an auto-renewal on your subscription, your subscription will lapse at the end of your current term and you will not be charged again.
Can I access this content on my smartphone or my tablet?
Yes, if you have a subscription to AUTOSPORT+ you can view all of the site’s content through the browser in your phone or tablet. If you also subscribe to the digital replica version of AUTOSPORT magazine you can download the PDF and view this on any iOS or Android device. Once we introduce subscription packages which includes the HD iPad version of AUTOSPORT magazine you will, of course, be able to view this on your iPad.
I have another question…
Feel free to post it in this thread or contact me directly!
I have only just seen this (and I am sure my following point is made in this thread), but I will make it irrelevant by viewing the site through a proxy website.