Internal War Breaks Out at The NY Times over iPad (Unconfirmed)

It has been revealed that two separate sections handling the most prominent US newspaper are fighting each other to get control of content distribution via iPad, as well as pricing. The move couldn’t have come at a worse time for the paper, as digital distribution of such content is set to take off with, or without it.

Silicon Alley Insider is citing a Times source as saying that, “On one side [...] you have print circulation, which thinks it should control the iPad since it's just another way to distribute the paper. They'd like to charge $20 to $30 per month for the Times' forthcoming iPad app, basically the product already demonstrated on stage with Steve Jobs.”

The tipster further weighed in on the matter, the site informs, explaining why the side handling print had such a high price in mind. Their reasoning, according to this source, is that, “People will cancel the print paper if they can get the same thing on their iPad,” the site says. It then implies that the iPad distribution method should actually be cheaper than the print, since delivery costs would be much lower.

“On the other side, you have the Times' digital operation, which is pushing to charge $10 per month for the iPad edition and is said to be up in arms over print circulation's pricing,” this source allegedly told the Silicon Alley Insider. “The digital side will provide interactive content for the iPad no matter what happens, but does not want print circulation to have control of pricing, marketing and other facets of the product,” the Times insider said, the site reveals. Finally, it points out that, even at $10 per month, the iPad edition of The NY Times would be less attractive than the free-through-2011 Web edition.