The premium new apps combine interactive (digital) and replica (PDF) editions to leverage the capability of mobile and tablet devices, whilst delivering ABC-certifiable copies to subscribers. The digital aspect will be curated and refreshed several times throughout the day and features easy swiping navigation. It will also feature prominent promotion of social media sharing, commenting, photo galleries and video, as well as interactive crosswords, Sudoku and Codeword plus weather reports that can be customized depending on your location.
Beyond the greatly enhanced functionality and design, the strategic aim for the apps is to provide a consistent, harmonious experience for users, who research shows use more than one device, be that PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone. Registered users and subscribers have the option to save their details and preferences centrally to be recognised across a variety of devices. The app will be available on all major smartphones and tablets (iOS, Android and Kindle Fire) with a responsive user experience design which adapts to each device.
The London Evening Standard launches first on iOS followed shortly after by Android and Kindle Fire, and, later, by The Independent. The Evening Standard app will remain free, but registration will be encouraged for enhanced experience and offers. Digital PDFs of the London title, from the first edition to the West End final, will be easily accessible, along with the past seven days, and 30-day rolling archives. In addition, Homes & Property and ES Magazine will be added to the app offering, each with their own 30-day archive of previous editions.
ESI Media has developed the apps on the back of consumer research that revealed subscribers desired a true digital newspaper that retained the joy of a ‘linear’ print reading experience. The apps will be produced by a dedicated editorial team - working in tandem with print and digital colleagues - highlighting ESI Media’s commitment to investing in digital as well as making more video content available digitally ahead of the launch of London Live next spring, say the publishers.
ESI Media will offer enhanced commercial opportunities for advertisers through these apps, across all platforms, titles and technology. The new apps will offer both IAB standard ad units to enable advertisers to buy as extensions of web site campaign packages, as well as bespoke or other high-impact full-page interstitials, which can be combined with print or other off-line campaign activity, such as promotions, events or reader offers.
Zach Leonard, Managing Director, Digital at The Independent, i and London Evening Standard said: “Our ambition is to directly respond to the demand of our consumers and advertisers by designing a solution for the London Evening Standard and The Independent that is easy to use, interact with and buy. This is evidence of our ongoing commitment to digital innovation and to meeting our readers’ needs. These apps allow consumers to read our products in the way they want to, and make it easy for advertisers to reach them in new, engaging ways, allowing us to deliver the best journalism to our subscribers and quality cross-platform and cross-title commercial opportunities for brands.”
The Evening Standard app utilises PageSuite’s feed-driven software and enables them to produce optimised templates for mobile and tablet devices, combined with a digital PDF of the daily newspaper, as part of their on-going digital investment.
PageSuite’s Managing Director, Ross Murphy said “We’re delighted to have launched this brand new app for the London Evening Standard. The fact that they are now able deliver multiple editions per day, with minimal resource required, is a fantastic benefit.”
