Nexstar, the US local television giant, is moving into the digital subscription business through its national political news brand The Hill, which on Wednesday launches a paid membership product called The Hill Insider. The step matters because it marks an attempt by one of the most-read online political outlets to convert its large free audience into paying members, while retaining its free journalism intact.

The service comes in two tiers: a $5.99-a-month option offering exclusive podcasts, premium newsletters and live calls with Hill journalists, and a $9.99-a-month tier that adds an ad-free website experience and VIP access to Hill events. Executives Justin Eli and Bill Sammon stress that the aim is to go deeper rather than broader, positioning the product as consumer-focused and more affordable than rivals such as Politico Pro, whose professional offerings can cost thousands of dollars a month. The Hill, which regularly tops Comscore's news-politics rankings, is betting that converting even a small share of its readers will build a meaningful business.