Standard Hong Kong goes free
Hong Kong English language business paper The Standard will convert to a free daily on Monday September 10. It will be the fourth free daily in Hong Kong but the first English language one. Publisher Sing Tao News Corp. also publishes the free Headline Daily (launched 2005). Also in 2005 AM730 was launched while Metro has been on the Hong Kong market since 2002. Total free circulation in Hong Kong will rise to almost two million, equal to the paid circulation in Hong Kong.
The 120,000 copies will make The Standard the English language paper with the highest circulation in Hong Kong. The paper will be distributed at more than 80 high-traffic points in the business districts and also to commercial buildings, residential areas, schools and universities, hotels, airlines and sports clubs. The Standard will also be available in some locations in Macau. Sing Tao also publishes the free weekend paper Express Post. The publisher expects to break-even within 18 or even 12 months.
Source: The Standard