TODAY, THE42 BEGINS an exciting new phase as we launch our membership scheme.
You know us, we don’t usually like to brag; but over the past nine years, we’ve become Ireland’s favourite online sports news source and your go-to place for proper analysis, interesting long-reads, breaking news and lively conversation.
Now, we want to produce even more of all that, with your support.
But don’t worry! Nothing will change on The42 website — this is not a paywall or a subscription service. If you don’t want to part with any cash and become a member, for whatever reason, your experience on The42 will be just the same. The app you use every day will merely continue to improve and grow.
However, if the idea of supporting Irish sports journalism, enjoying even more access to some of the best writers in the country and getting exciting, extra benefits is interesting, then, as Con Houlihan would have said, read on.
So what do you get? As well as being a part of the membership community, you’ll have access to:
- a series of brand-new member-only podcasts, the first two of which are available now: Behind The Lines, a series of longform interviews with some of the biggest names in sports journalism; and The Football Family, a collection of in-depth conversations with Irish football personalities at home and abroad.
- The much-loved The42 Rugby Weekly podcast will continue to be available to everyone but we’ll have extra episodes, events, newsletters and private groups for members who want to get the most out of the upcoming Rugby World Cup and beyond.
- entry to a monthly draw with big prizes. For August we have a pair of tickets for the All-Ireland hurling final with accommodation in the four-star, city-centre Brooks Hotel with bed and breakfast and an evening meal. Game on, Ger.
- new and exclusive off-platform newsletters from our reporters and editors, giving you a behind-the-scenes insight into our newsroom and the beats we cover each day.
- patron-only events throughout the year and around the country with some of sport’s most respected voices.
- Town Hall meetings for members where we discuss our editorial decisions and plans, as well as big topics in Irish sport and listen to your feedback.
- discounts on some nice merchandise, our books and tickets.
- A membership pack stuffed with nice bits and pieces and a letter from us.
You can get all that, and much more as we react to your member feedback, for just a fiver a month and you can quit whenever you want.
Even better, you can kick in €42 for the entire year. (No, we couldn’t resist picking that figure, sadly.)
To join simply click here for more details and follow the simple instructions.
Support The42; join the club.
– First published 10.00, 29 July
Subscription for information that’s free elsewhere?
Closure of daily edge, then a subscription model for sports… makes me think that ad revenue is dropping and the business model isn’t as successful as it once was.
Wonder how long it’ll take for this to be deleted???
@sequoia: maybe you didn’t read the article
@Stephen Watson: There’s no maybe about it. Sequoia couldn’t wait to have a whinge about something. Trivial matters like facts and statements would only get in the way.
This is how you lose users. Or drive up costs
Very few users will pay a subscription to a service where:
A) the information is available free elsewhere
B) a paywall is suddenly introduced
Just look at traditional media for examples
All that’s happening here is costs are being driven up by putting in value add features with no indication of how successful they’re going to be.
Even if they’d contacted all users and asked them would they be willing to pay for the service, if 100% said yes, the likely return would be less than 40%.
@sequoia: I agree. Best thing about the 42 is the comments section. No offence but the level of journalism on here is average at best. Some good stories every now and again but majority of the time it’s just click bait with misleading headlines. And that’s fine. I like it. Get my sports hit. But to pay for it?!! I can sympathize with the pressure of putting up constant content. That must be difficult.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: Did you read the article? You’ll still get the articles and comments section for free, the subscription is for extra stuff.
And I disagree, there is some great sportswriting on here – much better than other free sports sites. Some click bait headlines, yeah, but that’s one of the ways they make money. If you don’t want click bait headlines then pay for your journalism
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: oh I’ve read it! Seeing… “Only for subscription members” is going to drive a wedge between its current audience. Reading down through the articles and not being able to access everything! It will lose readers in my opinion.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: are you sure you’ve read it? Because it clearly says that nothing will change on the 42 site
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: I think you are a little nieve to think that. Things will be introduced bit by bit as to not shock the audience too much all at one time. But things will change
“this is not a paywall or subscription service “….. and guess what.. it’s a subscription service….
@windbag: if you want it to be
Pity ye changed from the Score to The 42. Ye would have had to charge just the €20 then ;)
@Stephen Keane: Quality. Hopefully members will vote emphatically in favour of the return of ‘Comment of the Week’.
@Gavan Casey: Bring back red thumbs!
Best of luck with the new plans. I’ll probably sign up anyway just to see what it’s all about. You’ll get the usual idiots saying that they won’t pay for information that is free elsewhere. If everyone had that attitude you’d have no professional journalists and no quality reporting, just echo chambers and click bait.
@JoeO:
€42 a year is feck all. I’ll pay that no dramas. I enjoy the site and can afford it.
Sport won’t be what it once was for much longer. Greed and money killing what’s good about sport. This is just another example. More wants more. Bubble will burst.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: €42 a year isn’t too much
@Eoin Murphy: it isn’t… But you can live without sports content. I’d prefer to give it to my child to pay for something useful then to pay for headlines!!
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: Cool story, Caoimhín. Off you go with your kid to McDonalds and let people who want to pay for extra content do so without judgement.
@James McLoughlin: what are u on about? Not judging anyone! Do as you please. Giving my opinion. That’s it. Don’t get personal.
Oh I do wonder where this is headed…
Be great to put a face to a few names…
Ill buy if you stop censoring any comment that isnt leftist
@sean: yea ‘rightist’… sorry I’ll get my coat.
I thought twas free, 5 euros a month getaway out of it…
The podcast is going to be journalists interviewing other journalists?
So, like the late late show, but it costs extra….pass!
definitely better to sign up….
Da fuk is the 42
@Faixa Roxa: There is a hidden clue in the headline if your clever enough to find it.
@davcar: a long shot I’d say, give him a hand with his shoelaces will you
Not about the cost but the principle, so The 42 I will not be signing up as all content is available on other social nedia sources, its not like you provide inside scoop stories.
That said all the best with the venture but please don’t start shoving adverts down our throat and then pull the bullshit of the premier version being ads free or something…
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: couple of points here. Firstly the writing from the 42 is easily the highest quality of all such online media. Secondly the 42 will remain the same for non paying users, the sub service is clearly for the many extras including podcasts, interviews and competitions and not for info freely available elsewhere. Clearly you feel entitled to receive such a service for free but ya know that’s not how the world works and maybe you don’t know this but it’s your choice whether you subscribe or not.
Personally a fiver a month is very affordable for people who enjoy such content but there will always be whingers who want everything free.
Firstly the quality of writing is far higher than the other similar online sites. Secondly the usual output remains free and people choose to pay for extra which is not information free elsewhere but includes podcasts, interviews, competitions etc and is your choice whether to subscribe or not. Media changing rapidily and clearly the 42 are moving with it. A fiver a month is excellent value imo but there are always whinge bags ready to knock ideas. Just don’t sign up if you don’t want to, it’s pretty simple.