RedEye Goes Free–Boosts Reader Convenience
CHICAGO, September 30, 2005 — Beginning Monday, October 3 RedEye will be even easier to find. RedEye is removing its cover price and will be distributed free at retail locations, honor boxes and via samplers. Now, Chicagoans can experience the ease of RedEye’s quick, clever take on the day’s news, entertainment, lifestyle and social buzz without the bother of digging for a quarter.
“Since our launch in October 2002, RedEye has operated under a hybrid free/paid model with the majority of our distribution being free,” said Brad Moore, RedEye general manager. “As we continued to monitor the business it became clear that converting to a free model would make RedEye most accessible–putting copies into more readers” hands. Increasing readership means more value for our advertisers and more revenue growth.”
In three short years, RedEye has established itself as an effective vehicle to reach an elusive audience–the young, urban commuter. By year-end 2004, RedEye amassed a weekly readership of nearly 600,000 Chicagoans. (Gallup Poll of Media Usage and Consumer Behavior-Chicago Copyright 2004.)
RedEye will grow distribution to 105,000 copies daily to key Chicago zip codes and can be found at 1150 honor boxes, at retail locations (including 126 Starbucks) and via samplers at heavily trafficked train stations and intersections. Home delivery service will still be offered for $1 a week.
RedEye will continue to be audited twice yearly by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Readership studies will be conducted quarterly by Gallup.
RedEye, an edition of the Chicago Tribune, is available weekdays throughout the city of Chicago. RedEye includes a daily dose of content from metromix.com, Chicago’s premier online guide to dining and entertainment. For more on RedEye, visit www.redeyechicago.com. Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), one of the country’s premier media companies.
