The problem that needs solving is that I would be willing to pay the NYT on a per article basis, but subscribing to them in entirety isn't worth it for me. I am not going to read most of their content, nor do I want to read the majority of it. At the same time, I want to read WSJ, WaPo LA Times, the Guardian, etc., to get different points of view on the same subject matter. My options to pay do not reflect my consumption. That's why we ditched cable TV years ago. Ads are the closest thing to micropayments, but they are a corrupting revenue stream. I want an account that I can fill that allows me to pay for content on a per-article bases that includes a large variety of media outlets. I would also love the ability to tip extra for articles I really appreciated. An app like that could possibly increase the reach of serious journalism.