Free NBR on your smartphone until Aug 31: offer now open to all

NBR's free Smartphone subscription offer, previously only available to IP subs, is now open to any New Zealander.

Anyone can access NBR ONLINE free on their mobile until August 31 for anywhere, anytime free access to paid content. 

Sign up at nbr.co.nz/free (note: tablets are not covered; NBR is automatically extending all paid Smartphone subscriptions in place on April 1 by six months).

NBR ONLINE’s recent major upgrade took a mobile-first approach, and also saw the introduction of a new $90 Smartphone Subscription option.

As NBR Publisher Todd Scott recently told Stoppress, "The best way to make some noise was to offer it for free.”

NBR radio evolves to MyNBR Radio – a world first
A second major initiative will see the recently-launched NBR Radio complemented with MyNBR Radio – which will enable NBR ONLINE subscribers to create their own playlists and get immediate access to audio streams of stories, interviews, panel discussions and behind-the-scenes context as reporters discuss their stories.

Mr Scott took to Twitter to bill MyNBR Radio as the world’s first subscriber-only on-demand online radio service behind a paywall – a claim that’s yet to be challenged.

The expanded service is just days away from launch.

NZ’s largest business newsroom gets bigger
To fuel NBR Radio and the fast-expanding NBR ONLINE, Mr Scott has added several staff to what was already NZ’s largest business newsroom.

The high-profile Tim Hunter (perhaps best known as his alter ego, Chalkie), will be coming on board soon.

He will be joining recent hires that include Hamish McNicol, business reporter at The Dominion Post, and Vicki Jayne, who has returned to work on The Rich List.

The total head count of reporters will soon be 17, not including contributors, or broadcasters John Stewart and Grant Walker, who have come on board to voice NBR Radio.

Best, not biggest
NBR’s publisher says he’s not after more stories but more in-depth stories. Mr Scott’s aim is to make the majority of NBR ONLINE’s revenue from subscribers.

Many news sites today are chasing clicks with “churnalism” and have business plans based on serving masses of low-yielding ads. NBR’s model – centred on revenue from readers – incentivises journalists to write tough, intelligent stories, he says.