Murdoch tabloid The Sun latest to erect online ‘paywall’

Rupert Murdoch's tabloid The Sun this week became the latest British newspaper to charge readers for online access, following The Times and the Daily Telegraph.

The online version is called Sun+ and costs subscribers £2 per week. The daily print tabloid costs £3.20 a week.

Murdoch's News UK, which owns The Sun, as well as The Times, announced the impending paywall in March, saying free online access had become "untenable".

The Sun has a circulation of 2.3 million in print, while about 1.7 million people visit its website each day. Most experts believe the paywall system will work for it.

The Times introduced its paywall three years ago. It requires a paid subscription before any stories can be viewed.

In March, the Daily Telegraph introduced a so-called metered paywall, where access is charged after 10 articles a month.

Sun+ will try to attract subscribers with offers such as videos of all Premier League goals.

Sun editor David Dinsmore, who replaced Dominic Mohan last month, described the move as a ''landmark'' event for the tabloid.

'I don't mind how you consume the Sun, if you want to read it in print product that's fine, if you want to read it online great, I don't care as long as you're paying for the product,' he told Sky News.

The Times was the first UK paper to introduce a paywall, back in 2009. The Financial Times has since followed suit.