MEN abandonds cover charge in Manchester city centre
The Manchester Evening News, has announced that it is to begin distributing its newspaper free of charge in the city centre of Manchester, dispatching an estimated 50,000 copies to office, newsagents and buy hand in a move to maximise the papers reach. The paper will however still have a cover charge outside of the city centre.
The Guardian Media Group owned paper believe that in doing so, it will expand the group’s portfolio of products from what they state is at 85 per cent in Greater Manchester.
The distribution of the free copies of papers will being at the start of next month – coinciding with the launch of newspaper the North West Enquirer.
Managing director of M.E.N. media sales, Mark Rix commented on the decision stating: “This bold move enables us to be innovative whilst growing our readership and delivering a new audience that enriches the traditional profile of our newspaper.
“We have already shown that a real and valuable market exists with the test of our Lite edition last year. Lite’s readership was young, upmarket and rarely bought a newspaper. We have proved that their loyal readership exists and we plan to develop this with the enhanced offer of a M.E.N. With this new development, we will be able to reach a hitherto non-press consuming generation with a progressively re-designed Manchester Evening News, more relevant to the future and strengthened by its past.”