Press release, 23 August 2012  14:45Helsingin Sanomat is currently being renewed in all channels. A particular emphasis is on content, journalistic quality and the development of the reading experience. Helsingin Sanomat online services hs.fi and HS Digilehti will be merged into a single, well-defined package at the end of the year. At the same time, Helsingin Sanomat will clarify pricing and introduce an open pay wall, subscription model based on use.Helsingin Sanomat will increase the number of online articles which provide background information and analysis of news events. At the same time, extensive online use will be subject to a fee. The change is part of more comprehensive development which can also be seen internationally."Charging a fee ensures high-quality content online. At the global level, we have already seen successful examples of introducing a fee. For example, the experiences of the New York Times with introducing a pay wall based on use are encouraging," says Pekka Soini, CEO of Sanoma News.Occasional users may continue to read the online service content free of charge but there is a limited number of free-of-charge articles. It is also possible to share articles in social media.  Existing digital edition subscribers will continue to get all content in all channels. The pricing and usage limits of the updated online service will be specified further by the end of the year."Online, Helsingin Sanomat will provide background to the news, profile interesting people and analyse what is going on in Finland and the rest of the world. We will build a news site which gives readers a better understanding of the world," says Mikael Pentikäinen, Senior Editor-in-Chief of Helsingin Sanomat.The renewal has also been surveyed thoroughly among HS readers. Based on the results, consumers want to read HS content using different devices, in a way that suits their life style. People are now also more willing to pay for premium content online.The online content and pricing update are part of the extensive, long-term development of HS, which covers all printed and digital channels of the paper. The goal is to provide readers with the best journalism and the best reading experience through all channels, be it on a computer, phone, tablet or in print.Additional information:Mikael Pentikäinen, Senior Editor-in-Chief, tel. +358 9 122 2310, e-mail: mikael.pentikainen@hs.fiHelsingin Sanomat reaches 1.9 million Finns through different channels every week. In addition to the daily paper, Helsingin Sanomat includes HS.fi, the Nyt-liite supplement, the Kuukausiliite monthly supplement and Radio Helsinki. The newspaper is also available for computers, phones and tablets, including the iPad.Sanoma News is the leading newspaper publisher in Finland, and its products in both print and digital format have a strong presence in the lives of their readers. In addition to Helsingin Sanomat, the largest daily in the Nordic region, it publishes Ilta-Sanomat, Finland's largest quality tabloid and Taloussanomat, the number one digital financial media, as well as regional newspapers. Sanoma News is also among the most significant digital actors in Finland. Sanoma News is part of the Sanoma Group, a strong European media group operating in diverse fields of media in 20 countries.