Editor-in-chief Andrew Neil says: “The idea of a magazine or newspaper giving away its content for free over the internet was never particularly logical, but the industry was feeling its way in a new market. The Spectator has now agreed a clear business model, online and offline.” He claims the site is “profitable within its own right” through advertising and sponsorship and the online-only content will remain free. “But the magazine is a distinct entity and has to be paid for.”

So if you want the magazine, it’s either a £135-a-year print subscription or you can get it in online, pdf jpeg-based page-turning format via webzine technology provider Exact Editions for £67.50 a year. There’s even a free issue on Exact Editions to entice you in—my view is it’s far from the most user-friendly format out there and the collapse of John Menzies Digital showed what the public make of online page-turning magazine replicas.

It’s either trying to build a US audience or is preempting a UK launch for Amazon’s Kindle e-reader, but you can get also get a Kindle subscription for $4.99 a week.