Indy to charge £13 per month for new mobile app

With the closure of The Independent’s print titles imminent, publisher ESI Media has revealed plans for its digital strategy as it prepares to move wholly online – including the launch of a new app and a six-figure marketing campaign.

The first in a series of planned product and service launches, The Independent Daily Edition will look to be a ‘virtual’ print edition of The Indy with approximately 100 articles published each day. It will cost £12.99 per month.

The news comes two weeks before The Independent will permanently close its weekday and weekend print editions and become a digital-only newsbrand – the first national newspaper to do so.

Meanwhile, Johnston Press is set to take on The Indy’s sister publication, the i, following a deal worth £24 million. Similarly, while the i newspaper will still run, Johnston Press has confirmed that it will have a digital-first strategy with a strong focus on mobile.

“The Independent Daily Edition is a brilliant new way for our growing audience to access our world-class quality journalism,” said Christian Broughton, editor of Independent Digital.

“As one of many innovations to support the growing demand for our content, the new app will deliver everything consumers love about The Independent in a way that fits their daily media consumption habits.”

Last month ESI confirmed to Newsline that its website, which is mobile-optimised, will remain open and free.

ESI has said that the mobile app will take on a scarcity model – and that premium ads will be sold within the app but at a lower frequency than usual.