Yesterday it was free chocolate bars with the Evening Standard, now you are going to get the whole paper for nothing, the Guardian reports today.It says the owner of the Standard, ex-KGB agent Alexander Lebedev is to make the paper, which currently has a 50p cover price, a free from 12 October with a distribution increasing from 250,000 to 600,000.
The Guardian says the move immediately throws the spotlight on Associated's free London Lite, which last month saw off the challenge of News International's thelondonpaper which folded.
The Guardian says the move immediately throws the spotlight on Associated's free London Lite, which last month saw off the challenge of News International's thelondonpaper which folded.
Lebedev is quoted as saying: "I am confident that more than doubling the London Evening Standard's circulation and maintaining its quality journalism is what London deserves. The Standard has been producing exceptional journalism since 1827 and that is not going to change under my ownership. The London Evening Standard is the first leading quality newspaper to go free and I am sure others will follow."
Earliy with the news! But it is not such a great surprise.
ReplyDeleteFor most publishers, newsstand sales are a very small part of their revenue. We had a great discussion about this earlier in the week at our Future of Publishing Discussion Dinner. Thought you might be interested in some of the thoughts of other publishers. http://thebln.com/2009/10/why-free-is-no-big-deal-for-the-evening-standard/
Thanks JVC,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the link.
Regards,
Jon S.