Time for a new business model for newspapers

For some time I have been pointing out that the only newspapers that will survive the coming media crunch will be ones that sell/print/give away a very large weekend edition.  It is my theory that if they want to make money they will need to rely upon online advertising during the week and printed on the weekend, with maybe a free printed version handed out on the subways and busses of major cities.  The idea being that most people do not have the time or interest to read papers during the work day.  Only during their commute, when they are not driving, and during the weekend when they have time to relax (supposedly).

Just like the evening TV news killed the afternoon edition of the newspaper, the internet will kill the standard morning edition.  Once again i am suggesting someone with cash should listen to me, start a GOOD paper that posts online during the week, with a minimal commuters print version (like the one put out by the washington post) and has a blockbuster weekend edition.  That weekend edition will be all the better for having a week-long news cycle.

ah well, here is my muse for this idea:

http://tinyurl.com/97mud

IT'S OFFICIAL: 2005 WILL BE the newspaper industry's worst year since the last ad industry recession. And things aren't looking much better for next year either, according to a top Wall Street firm's report on newspaper publishing. "Sadly, 2005 is shaping up as the industry's worst year from a revenue growth perspective since the recession impacted 2001-2002 period," says the report from Goldman Sachs, adding a warning that meaningful growth in 2006 is "very unlikely."