Observer to fold Preview section

The Observer is proposing to scrap its Preview listings magazine after only nine months and fold it into its Life section.

Preview spearheaded the comprehensive redesign and relaunch of The Observer last September under former editor Andrew Jaspan. It was intended to attract young and female readers back to the newspaper. Jaspen was sacked in April and replaced by Will Hutton, economics editor of The Guardian.

Preview was one of the paper’s new sections highlighted in the advertising campaign by St Luke’s for the relaunch. As well as listings, it carried lifestyle elements but with a heavier emphasis on metropolitan entertainment.

However, it is believed the A4 title has not made an impact on younger readers and failed to attract sufficient advertising, prompting the decision to fold it.

Observer marketing manager Stephen Palmer says no firm decision has been made to drop Preview. He says the “whole package” is being reviewed after Hutton’s appointment and recent editorial changes.

Folding Preview into the Life section is just one option being considered, says Palmer. “All I know is that we are definitely going to keep the seven-day radio and TV package.”

The launch of Preview last September is thought to have been a contributor to the estimated 7.5m loss the paper incurred last financial year, with 2m tagged to the newspaper’s relaunch costs.

The Evening Standard is launching a new weekly listings magazine, “hot tickets” this Friday (May 24) with ES magazine. The 64-page listings package will feature movie, museum, theatre, club and pub information for London.