London Lite May Fold

Launched three years ago, the London Lite transformed British newspaper culture and proved popular with younger Londoners, who boosted the paper's circulation to more than 400,000 daily copies. For almost all of its existence, the paper was locked in a fierce circulation battle with a newer rival, thelondonpaper, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International.

Associated Newspapers officials said that the economic downturn has called the paper's continued profitability into question. News International shut down thelondonpaper last month. Associated said that it would consult with the paper's staff before making a final decision on closing the paper.

Steve Auckland, the head of Associated Newspapers' free division, was quoted in the Evening Standard, as saying, "The latest development in the London afternoon free newspaper space dictates that we look again at the future of London Lite. Despite reaching a large audience with an excellent editorial format, we are concerned about commercial viability in this highly competitive area." The Lite shares a newsroom with the Standard; Evening Standard parent Daily Mail and General Trust owns a 24.9 percent stake in the paper. The Standard converted to free circulation two weeks ago, distributing 600,000 copies daily.

Written by Sandy Smith