Independent Ditches Broadsheet For Budget Special
The Independent will ditch it’s broadsheet edition entirely tomorrow to make way for a compact Budget special, in a move that has prompted further rumours that a switch to tabloid-only publication is imminent.
The one-off special edition will feature a 32-page section on the Chancellor, Gordon Brown’s, fiscal policy, making the overall size of the paper too big to warrant multiple formats being printed.
The move is being seen by some as another step towards the newspaper becoming a full-time tabloid, following its decision to ditch its broadsheet edition in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and South-West England earlier this year (see Independent Ditches Broadsheet Edition In Some Areas).
The latest ABC results for February show the Independent‘s circulation increasing by 3% month on month to 256,378 since its tabloid incarnation was launched. Meanwhile, the Times, which also recently launched a compact version, suffered a slight 0.7% dip during the same period to 655,876.
A spokeswoman for the Independent dismissed claims by some that the decision to drop the newspaper’s broadsheet format was a step towards tabloid-only publication. She said: “The decision to go tabloid-only was made simply because it’s going to be such a large paper that we were going to be unable to produce two formats, like we were on Boxing Day.”
Commenting on the move, Nick Vyas, associate director at ZenithOptimedia, said: “Ditching the broadsheet and going completely compact has been on the cards for quite some time. The Indy is clearly nervous about the potential negative effect on circulation and this is a way of testing what could happen. They will be studying tomorrow’s sales figures closely.”
He added: “Apart from the logistical costs involved in producing different formats, newsagents are not too keen on the amount of shelf space the two editions occupy. From our point of view the overall circulation is key and if they can maintain their gains without the broadsheet then we would be more than happy as it would mean a reduction in production costs for our clients.”
Earlier this month The Scotsman became the latest broadsheet to enter into tabloid format, launching a compact Saturday edition throughout Scotland. Yesterday the Guardian ruled out a tabloid edition, but revealed it could be considering a midsize edition somewhere between a broadsheet and tabloid format (see Guardian Considers Midsize Edition To Boost Sales).
Independent: 020 7005 2000 www.independent.co.uk
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