The Times and The Sunday Times are set to become the first UK national newspapers to charge for all their online content, although the Pearson-owned Financial Times has been progressively moving to a stage where it is charging for the vast majority of its content.
The NI move, which will be viewed by some as a high-risk strategy, will be watched keenly by rival newspaper groups as they search to make money from their digital operations.
The new pricing model will be implemented from June. In May, the current site Timesonline.co.uk will be split in two, with The Sunday Times getting its own site at Thesundaytimes.co.uk, and The Times moving to Thetimes.co.uk.
Payment will be made by direct debit, and customers will get access to both titles.
A weekly subscription will also give consumers access to The Times' e-paper and certain new applications.
Free access will be given to people who have a seven-day subscription to the print editions of The Times and The Sunday Times.
The two new sites will be available for a free trial period to registered customers.
The Times is also preparing dedicated editions for phones, e-readers, tablets and mobile devices, according to editor James Harding.
Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, said: "We expect to attract a growing base of loyal customers that are committed and engaged with our titles. We are building on the excellence of our newspapers and offering digital access to our journalism at a price that everyone can afford."
Times Newspapers, the business housing the two titles, recently reported a 60% rise in operating losses to £72m, after revenues fell £60m to £385.5m.
A similar charging model for News International's other newspaper sites for The Sun and The News of The World is likely to follow.
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