Payment system described as "very light touch", with a "very generous allowance" before users forced to pay

Guardian
Mark Sweney

Telegraph Media Group is understood to be planning to introduce charging for some of its digital content from September.

The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk publisher has earmarked a September launch for a new metered access service, although one source describes the timing as fluid, saying it "could come forward, it could go back".

TMG, which has been working on a range of online content charging plans since November, is not looking to introduce the full paywall model adopted by News Internationals Times, Sunday Times and News of the World.

The system set to be introduced has been described by one source as "very light touch", with a "very generous allowance" before users would reach the metered limit and be forced to register and pay.

TMGs aim is to make subscribers to the print edition, who would gain free access to the online digital content, feel they were receiving a more valuable product with the goal to launch a wider range of digital subscription services later. The Telegraphs iPhone and iPad applications are currently free.

The company has kicked off early-stage talks with a number of digital agencies about an overhaul of the Telegraphs websites for the introduction of charging.

"Absolutely no decisions have been made on the introduction of a paid-content model," said a spokeswoman for the Daily Telegraph. "Like all publishers, TMG continually evaluates the developments in the digital sector."

In December Telegraph.co.uk registered 31 million unique visitors, the third-largest UK newspaper online behind Guardian.co.uk with 39 million and Mail Online with 54 million.