Instead of opting just for the print edition of The Straits Times offered through vendors, some subscribers have switched to a direct subscription package offering print and digital access.
They have taken advantage of the All-In-One (AIO) package, which is offered at $29.90 a month - the same as that for the print-only package.
Subscribers interviewed cited the convenience of being able to pay using credit cards and the connectivity offered by the AIO package as reasons for the switch.
The AIO package allows subscribers to access the print and online versions of The Straits Times, through digital platforms such as smartphones and tablets. This package was not previously available for vendor subscribers.
Service manager Richard Chia, 61, who opted for the AIO package, has been reading The Straits Times for five decades. The Queenstown resident shares the paper with his family of four and said he enjoys reading daily local news in the Home and Top Of The News sections. His wife, Madam Heidi Chia, prefers the Life section.
Mr Chia said: "The AIO package is very convenient, especially if we are overseas and we want to update ourselves on news in Singapore."
New subscribers to the AIO package stand a chance to win a trip for two to their dream destination or a retreat at Resorts World Sentosa, during the ongoing Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) subscription drive which ends on July 20.
Housewife Francea Lee, 48, said she switched from vendor to direct subscription as it was inconvenient to pay through vendors. She said: "Often, I would be out when they came to collect payment. The new direct mode of payment allows me to pay without hassle."
Ms Lee, whose family has been reading the paper for 20 years, said the AIO package was ideal for them. "With the online version, it's naturally convenient for us to access the news on the go. My children are also able to login via the digital platforms and access the paper easily," she said.
Readers who switched over from vendor to direct subscription also noted that they would continue to have physical copies of The Straits Times delivered to them by their vendors.
Malavika Menon
