Mid-Day shuts its Delhi and Bengaluru editions

The decision was taken due to prolonged losses the company incurred on these editions. The company now plans to give a push to its Mumbai edition.

Jagran Prakashan (JPL) has decided to close down Delhi and Bengaluru editions of the tabloid Mid-Day, which it had acquired in May 2010. The last editions for Delhi and Bengaluru will be out on December 6, 2011.

In an internal mail, Manajit Ghoshal, managing director and chief executive officer, Mid-Day Infomedia, informed the Mid-Day team that the decision has been necessitated by prolonged losses the company had to incur on these two editions. However, JPL will continue its Mumbai and Pune editions. The company will monitor the Pune media market to spot opportunities to improve the circulation of Mid-Day's Pune edition.

"Due to the ever-increasing competition in the print media space, the funds required to break even in these cities kept escalating. Finally, we had to take this call," wrote Ghoshal.

Mid-Day will continue to maintain a news bureau in Delhi, and sales offices in both Bengaluru and Delhi.

Ghoshal further wrote, "But, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Mumbai Mid-Day will now have the strength to soar to greater heights. December 6, 2011 is an important day in the history of Mid-Day. Today, we will have to halt and think. Think about many of our colleagues who will have to move on. It's a testing time for them as it is for us. Right now, it may look dark, but I am sure we'll come out of this with flying colours. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours. We also need to think about the added responsibilities for all of us who remain in this great organisation, and who have to carry its legacy forward."

As per the internal mail, cutting the losses incurred in Delhi and Bengaluru will help bolster Mid-Day's circulation in Mumbai. "The Jagran Group will invest a large sum in boosting Mid-Day's circulation in Mumbai. We need to now concentrate on building brand Mid-Day in Mumbai, and monetise Mumbai Mid-Day's large increase in circulation. In this, our sales colleagues in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune will play a significant part," wrote Ghoshal.

This closure will have no impact on Gujarati Mid-Day and Inquilab.