diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
index 8c60715ae2..0fe537b598 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/metadata_bulk.ui
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
      <item>
       <widget class="QTabWidget" name="central_widget">
        <property name="currentIndex">
-        <number>2</number>
+        <number>0</number>
        </property>
        <widget class="QWidget" name="tabWidgetPage1">
         <attribute name="title">
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/scheduler.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/scheduler.py
index 30f4a2d8a2..071c5778a8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/scheduler.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/scheduler.py
@@ -120,12 +120,15 @@ class SchedulerDialog(QDialog, Ui_Dialog):
 
         if self.account.isVisible():
             un, pw = map(unicode, (self.username.text(), self.password.text()))
+            un, pw = un.strip(), pw.strip()
             if not un and not pw and self.schedule.isChecked():
-                error_dialog(self, _('Need username and password'),
-                        _('You must provide a username and/or password to '
-                            'use this news source.'), show=True)
-                return False
-            self.recipe_model.set_account_info(urn, un.strip(), pw.strip())
+                if not getattr(self, 'subscription_optional', False):
+                    error_dialog(self, _('Need username and password'),
+                            _('You must provide a username and/or password to '
+                                'use this news source.'), show=True)
+                    return False
+            if un or pw:
+                self.recipe_model.set_account_info(urn, un, pw)
 
         if self.schedule.isChecked():
             schedule_type = 'interval' if self.interval_button.isChecked() else 'day/time'
@@ -157,7 +160,13 @@ class SchedulerDialog(QDialog, Ui_Dialog):
         account_info = self.recipe_model.account_info_from_urn(urn)
         customize_info = self.recipe_model.get_customize_info(urn)
 
-        self.account.setVisible(recipe.get('needs_subscription', '') == 'yes')
+        ns = recipe.get('needs_subscription', '')
+        self.account.setVisible(ns in ('yes', 'optional'))
+        self.subscription_optional = ns == 'optional'
+        act = _('Account')
+        act2 = _('(optional)') if self.subscription_optional else \
+                _('(required)')
+        self.account.setTitle(act+' '+act2)
         un = pw = ''
         if account_info is not None:
             un, pw = account_info[:2]
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
index d1e7866198..f3d77061c3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
 
     #: If True the GUI will ask the user for a username and password
     #: to use while downloading
-    #: @type: boolean
+    #: If set to "optional" the use of a username and password becomes optional
     needs_subscription     = False
 
+    #:
+
     #: If True the navigation bar is center aligned, otherwise it is left aligned
     center_navbar = True
 
@@ -609,7 +611,8 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
         if self.needs_subscription and (\
                 self.username is None or self.password is None or \
                 (not self.username and not self.password)):
-            raise ValueError(_('The "%s" recipe needs a username and password.')%self.title)
+            if self.needs_subscription != 'optional':
+                raise ValueError(_('The "%s" recipe needs a username and password.')%self.title)
 
         self.browser = self.get_browser()
         self.image_map, self.image_counter = {}, 1
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
index 1dd19dc524..012e24a799 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/recipes/collection.py
@@ -45,12 +45,17 @@ def serialize_recipe(urn, recipe_class):
         return ans
 
     default_author = _('You') if urn.startswith('custom:') else _('Unknown')
+    ns = attr('needs_subscription', False)
+    if not ns:
+        ns = 'no'
+    if ns is True:
+        ns = 'yes'
     return E.recipe({
         'id'                 : str(urn),
         'title'              : attr('title', _('Unknown')),
         'author'             : attr('__author__', default_author),
         'language'           : attr('language', 'und'),
-        'needs_subscription' : 'yes' if attr('needs_subscription', False) else 'no',
+        'needs_subscription' : ns,
         'description'        : attr('description', '')
         })