To pay or not to pay(wall): that’s the question!

In March 2011 The New York Times introduced a metered paywall similar to the system used for years by The Financial Times. In October 2012 the Swiss NZZ set up its own paywall. Many other newspapers are thinking of - or about to do - the same; take for example the various rumours about paywalls at The Guardian and indeed at the biggest-selling Italian dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera. The financial results for those newspapers which have taken the plunge behind a paywall seem broadly encouraging, even if the additional revenue does not match what the print version can provide. Not forgetting the ADV wall issue, with possible collateral loss of advertising revenue. So what’s the current state of play, in Italy and worldwide?