Billings Gazette Raises Their Subscription Prices

This morning, the Flakes got a call from a lady who just got a bill in the mail from the Billings Gazette.  Amazingly, the cost of subscribing to the local newspaper is now $78 for 12 weeks.  That works out to over $320 a year...for the newspaper.

And that doesn't include the $3 fee for the Thanksgiving paper with all of the good coupons.  That must be comforting for local businesses to know the Gazette is charging people more to see their advertisements.  Is it any wonder why the newspaper industry is going away, and fast?

According to the lady, they have lost her as a customer.  Another one bites the dust.  Now, she'll have an extra $300 a year to spend elsewhere.

Here's a thought:  if the Gazette is going to charge their consumers more, can they try being wrong a little less?  Or maybe at least reflecting the opinions of their readers in their editorials.

And those are just the readers, mind you.  If you've had a loved one passed away recently, like Mark has, you would be astonished at how much it costs to buy on obituary.  Paul joked that it's only a matter of time before some smart radio guy comes up with a "creative revenue generator" for the station.  Then the Flakes will be reading obituaries at 6:10 am every morning.  It sounds crazy, but nothing would surprise us anymore.

Of course, Mark and Paul remind you that radio is free.  They're local and they're here everyday to answer your phone calls and e-mails.  The Gazette will send you a bill, but Cat Country won't.