The New York Times's attempt to make money by making more of its online content accessible by subscription only began today with the official launch of the TimesSelect paid service, wrote DM News last week. Subscribers will have to pay $49.95 a year for online access to most columnists in the Op-Ed, business, New York/region and sports sections - as well as video interviews and Web-only posts. Subscribers will also be able to read up to 100 archived articles a month. Home-delivery subscribers of the print version will have free access to TimesSelect.

NYTimes.com is one of the most visited news sites in the U.S., with an estimated 11.26 million unique users having visited the site in May, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. The mean age of NYTimes readers is 45; 53 percent of the readers are male; readers' mean income is $84,243, and 74 percent are college grads or post-grads.

"All of our news, features, editorials and analysis will remain free to readers of NYTimes.com, as will our interactive graphics, multimedia and popular video minutes," said NYTimes.com editor in chief Leonard M. Apcar in a note posted on the site.