News International scraps bulk copies of Times

by John Reynolds, mediaweek.co.uk 02-Nov-09, 13:58

LONDON - News International has confirmed it is scrapping distribution of its bulk copies of The Times and The Sunday Times, as previously revealed in Media Week.

The company today (2 November) said "it has served notice on partners and wholesalers with whom it has an agreement to supply ‘bulks'."

The move, to take effect from January, will cut tens of thousands of copies from the UK circulation of its newspapers.

According to ABC figures, bulk copies were responsible for 47,858 copies of The Times' circulation of 571,506 in September. The Sunday Times gave away 16,543 out of its overall circulation of 1,207,141 in the same month.

It follows a similar move by Guardian News & Media, which stopped circulating all bulk copies of The Guardian and The Observer in September.

Historically, The Times and The Sunday Times have used heavily discounted copies on airlines and in hotels as a tool for sampling new readers and providing advertisers with extra reach.

Sister brands The Sun and News of the World do not use bulk copies.

Bulk copies are sold for a nominal cost and then given out free on airlines and hotels.