Sun-Times signs Clickshare for newspaper site

The Chicago Sun-Times has partnered with Clickshare Service Corp. for subscription management and access control on the paper's Web site.

The Sun-Times is launching an electronic edition of its flagship paper that will only be available to paying print customers. Executives for the newspaper hope this move will add value to Sun-Times in the eyes of existing customers while boosting paid circulation.

Adding Clickshare to its site is one of a string of changes undertaken by the Sun-Times lately. The newspaper group recently entered into a contract with Chicago Tribune Company for home delivery and suburban single-copy delivery of the Chicago Sun-Times and most of its suburban publications. That move was intended to boost customer service and cut costs for the paper.

Clickshare, Williamstown, MA, is a privately owned company. Its customers include Crain Communications Inc. and Journal Register Co. The company provides online registration and credit card billing, site registration, authentication and subscriptions or per-click billing services.

Sun-Times News Group, Chicago, publishes the Chicago Sun-Times as well as 92 community papers and multiple Web sites.