Times to start "serious" newspaper for Mumbai
BY A CORRESPONDENT
The Business Standard reports that Times of India is launching a new newspaper for Mumbai on May 1, 2005. It says that the paper is to be called Times Independent and will target the 40-plus age group including serious news readers. We dont have any independednt confirmation about the veracity of the report, but think it is likely.
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Officially, the Times group has not announced any plans for a fresh newspaper. Over a decade back, the Times of India group had the Independedent and the Illustrated Weekly of India in its stables, both of which were closed down. Another wildly popular product, the
Indrajal Comics (we grew up reading them!) was also shut down later. One hopes the
Indrajal Comics too takes life again!
If the move is true, it adds credibility to rumours that southern titan
The Hindu could be planning to launch an assault on the massive Mumbai market currently dominated by
Times of India. The Times of India is well on its way to take on
The Hindu in Chennai with its own edition. (As an aside, exchange4media.com has reported that half way through the TOI Chennai project, its project leader has quit to join Deccan Herald).
The Hindu targets serious readers and could wean away many readers now reading Times.
If Times Independent is launched for sure, it becomes the first off the block to kick off the media war Mumbai is waiting for. Other confirmed Mumbai aspirants include the
Zee-Dainik Bhaskar newspaper and the Hindustan
Times.
Some other Mumbai newspapers which became history in the last few years include the Observer twins --
Sunday Observer and Business Observer -- and the
Pioneer.
BY A CORRESPONDENT
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