Independent On Sunday To Make Tabloid Switch

The Independent on Sunday is to follow its weekday counterpart and publish in tabloid-only format from next week, ending months of speculation over the title’s future in broadsheet format.

The shift, which will take place on 16 October, leaves just three Sunday newspapers in broadsheet format, with the Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph and Observer yet to make the switch to compact publication.

The Sunday title will be hoping for a similarly warm response to its downsizing as was received by the weekday Independent last year (see Media Planners Welcome Independent’s Tabloid Move).

Circulation increases will also be expected following the change, with the company clearly hoping to ape the success of its tabloid weekday title, which has performed well since the change in May 2004 (see Independent Profits Rising Despite Times Competition).

The Independent on Sunday saw a decline in circulation of 7.5% year on year during August, with its total now standing at 202,248. The title currently commands the lowest sales of any quality sunday title, lagging behind its nearest rival, the Observer, with 425,737.

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