Financial crisis buoys City AM and Standard

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 10-Oct-08, 12:30

LONDON - The rising tide of bad financial news helped both City AM and The Evening Standard to regain circulation between August and September, with the paid-for title up almost 7% according to the latest ABC figures.

The Evening Standard performed well during September, rising by 6.76% month on month to 297,750. It marginally increased its bulk distribution from 126,403 copies in August to 126,437 copies in September.

The paper's six-month average is up 5.04% year on year to 291,275 copies.

City AM's coverage of the worsening financial crisis helped the free business daily to fully recover the level it had before winding down for the summer months. Its average daily circulation increased by 20.63% from August to 100,673 copies

Its six month average is up by just 0.06% year on year to 96,767.

Jens Torpe, chief executive and co-found of City AM, said: "In September, the impact of the financial crisis has changed the nature of business and financial news.

"It is now fast paced and instantaneous and audiences are demanding the latest developments and informed commentary with immediate urgency.

"Our increased focus on frontline journalism and evening editorial team has enabled City AM to use its late deadline to keep pace with events, delivering the most up to date news and commentary as the credit crisis unwinds to our readers every morning."

Among the other free titles, thelondonpaper and London Lite remained fairly static.

News International's thelondonpaper rose by just 0.05% month on month to 500,490 copies. Its six-month average was up by 1.28% year on year to 500,471 copies.

Its rival, London Lite, had an average daily circulation of 401,035 copies, up 0.13% on August. The paper's six-month average is up by 0.47% year on year to 401,231.

Metro's London circulation also remained steady. The paper climbed 0.53% month on month to 746,604 copies. Its six-month average is up by an impressive 32.43% year on year to 746,633.

Metro's UK average daily circulation jumped by just 0.37% month on month to 1,360,485. Its six-month average is up by 19.91% to 1,359,494 copies.