Henry Scott

The Thinking Behind the Post's Price Hike

Still, it's an odd move. Why wouldn't Murdoch wait until the Newsday deal (with him) is done? A big part of the Post's appeal is that it essentially is free (given that many New Yorkers wouldn't stop their busy stride to pick up a dropped quarter). And in fact, in the afternoon in Midtown, it is literally free, with distributors handing it out like day-old bread.

One thing Murdoch doesn't have to worry about is losing readers to the Daily News, even if the DN were to cut its price to a quarter. The two papers have such radically different content and very different audiences. The Post is the guilty pleasure of the typical Times reader. And the DN? Well, I don't know anyone who reads it (and yes, I know that makes me sound like a member of the media elite).