From now on, access to articles published in the online version of Times of Malta (and The Sunday Times of Malta) at www.timesofmalta.com will not be available free of charge but will be available only by premium subscription. This is sad news for all of those Maltese living abroad, who have become addicted to browsing through these papers in an effort to keep in touch with events in Malta.
Since a couple of days ago, visitors to the website who try to access an article, are presented with a notice stating:
“A subscription is required to access Times of Malta content from overseas. Register to get 10 free articles per month….. Your subscription will also enable you to view all of the week’s e-paper editions (both Times of Malta and The Sunday Times of Malta), view exclusive content, have full access to our newspaper archive to download editions from 1930 to today, and access the website in full from overseas. All of this will also be available to you from our tablet app.”
Subscription costs 2.99 Euros (about $A3.74) per week.
When we inquired with timesofmalta.com why a distinction is made between Maltese living in Malta and those living overseas, we were told that in Malta too, registration is essential. However, it is our understanding that people in Malta will still have access to the breaking news on the website for free.
We have had complaints from readers about this decision. We would request the same privileges for Maltese living abroad, otherwise one cannot escape the conclusion that there is an element of discrimination in this decision.