By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

Something incredible happened in February.

Between the buzzer-beaters on the court and the headers on the pitch, the Austin Sports Journal generated more than 1.5 million views across our network in a single month.

Think about that.

That’s not just a dashboard metric. It’s 1.5 million moments where a parent, coach or student-athlete saw their hard work recognized. It’s more than 30,000 interactions from people who deeply care about our local sports.

And behind every one of those stories? One person.

As a one-man operation, keeping up with this kind of growth is the best challenge I could ask for. But as growth and demand increase, so do the costs of doing it right.

Each story takes about eight hours to report, write, edit photos and video, publish and distribute across social media.

Add the equipment, software, travel and web hosting required, and the real cost of producing local sports coverage becomes clear.

That doesn’t include the time spent securing advertisers, responding to reader emails and other behind-the-scenes work.

With demand rising, I realized something important: The subscription model wasn’t working the way it should for readers or for the site.

Listening to readers

I recently asked readers for feedback on our subscription model, and the response I hear over and over is, “I don’t want another recurring charge.”

I hear you.

Recurring monthly bills add up. Everything requires a recurring subscription, and nobody likes feeling locked into something.

So, we’re changing it.

Starting today the Austin Sports Journal will offer simple, non-recurring access passes. No subscription traps. No surprise charges. Just one payment for access. For those who prefer month-to-month flexibility, that option remains available but will continue to be a recurring membership with an increase in price.

If you want to switch to one of the new models, you can do so anytime from your account page or by purchasing a new pass. Once you purchase a new pass, your old one will cancel automatically as long as you’re logged in.

The new lineup

I’ve broken it down into three simple plans designed for the casual reader, the dedicated fan and those who simply want to follow their team for the season.

Here’s the new lineup:

LEvel	Price	Billing	Description
Annual	$69	One-time	Best value at $5.75 per month. One payment provides full access for the entire year. Paying monthly for a year would cost nearly $180, so the annual pass saves more than $100.
Seasonal	$39	One-time	Four months of full access for just $9.75 per month. Save more than $20 compared to paying monthly and avoid a recurring charge.
Monthly	$14.99*	Recurring	Full access with month-to-month flexibility. Ideal for short-term access but the most expensive option over time.

The MVP bundle: Our signature volleyball preview magazine returns in July with expanded coverage and more schools featured. Annual pass subscribers will receive a discount code at checkout that is good for 20% off the magazine if ordered during the presale.

What it takes to do this right

My commitment has always been simple: Cover local sports with integrity, professionalism and pride.

When you subscribe, you’re not just paying for access. You’re funding:

• Gas to cover away games and state championships and playoffs
• The software required to keep the site running and edit photos and videos.
• The hours spent reporting, shooting and publishing.
• A locally owned media business covering your community.

This community just delivered a 1.5 million–view month. Now we build something even bigger.

FAQ

What happens to my current $7.99/month subscription?

If you are currently a monthly subscriber, you are considered a legacy member. You can keep your $7.99/month rate through April 15. If you subscribed between the 1st and 15th, you won’t see a change in price until your May charge. Beginning April 15, all monthly subscribers who signed up betwen the 16th and 31st will see an increase to the new $14.99 rate.

Can I upgrade from monthly to annual?

Yes. Before your next billing cycle, purchase the annual pass and your monthly subscription will automatically cancel. You will not be double charged.

What are the benefits to the annual and seasonal pass?

Many readers told me they dislike recurring billing. The seasonal and annual passes are one-time payments with no recurring charge. They are also cheaper over the long term. For example, if you paid for 12 months at the monthly price it would equal about $180. An annual pass gives you over $100 in savings and eliminates recurring billing.

What is the MVP bundle?

When you purchase an annual pass, you’ll receive a discount code for 20% off our $25 signature volleyball preview magazine –lowering the presale price to $20 during the April 1–May 31 presale window..

Does the annual and seasonal pass include the Texas Volleyball Journal?

Yes, all subscriptions will provide access to both Austin Sports Journal and Texas Volleyball Journal content.