Starbucks is giving customers free access to some national and major metropolitan local newspapers.
The courtesy access rolled out to customers using Starbucks’ complimentary in-shop wireless internet in early October, according to a blog on its website.
“It has been our vision that Starbucks remains a unique and sought out destination complemented by elevated digital relationships with our customers,” a press release from the company said. “With that in mind, we are exploring new ways to bring news and content digitally to our stores.”
Content partners announced at launch included the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, New York Daily News, the Seatle Times, the Baltimore Sun and the Orlando Sentinel. On Friday, in an email marketing blast to customers, Starbucks announced several more local news organizations participating in the program, including the Indianapolis Star, the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee.
Starbucks said the complimentary digital news access is for a limited time, though the company didn’t say when the promotion would end.
Starbucks said it was exploring the possibility of offering additional digital services in the future, though the beverage company didn’t say what other services were being explore. In the past, Starbucks has teamed up with XM Satellite Radio (now SiriusXM) and streaming music service Spotify to offer customers access to digital music.
The newspapers participating in Starbucks’ free digital access promotion are:
- The Wall Street Journal
- The New York Post
- The New York Daily News
- Barron’s
- USA Today
- ArizonaCentral.com
- The Seattle Times
- The Los Angeles Times
- The Chicago Tribune
- The Baltimore Sun
- The Philadelphia Daily Inquirer
- The Sacramento Bee
- The San Diego Union-Tribune
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal
- The Idaho Statesman
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- The Des Moines Register
- The Orlando Sentinel
- The Miami Herald
- The Charlotte Observer
- The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- The Tennessean
- The Indianapolis Star
In addition to the complimentary access, Starbucks is offering customers 50 percent off a one-year digital subscription for around $20 a month (normally $40 a month), 60 percent off a one-year print subscription at $18 a month (normally $43 a month) or 60 percent off a one-year print and digital subscription at $18 a month (normally $45 a month).
“This is just the beginning,” Starbucks said. “We will continue to listen and learn from our customers, looking for new opportunities to deliver news, content and experiences that are relevant to our customers, inspiring to our partners and meaningful to our communities.”
