In this venture, Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. which publishes the world’s largest English daily newspaper, The Times of India (TOI), will be an important double digit equity investor and strategic partner. Drawing from its rich experience after 172 years in the newspaper business and managing the printing of four million plus copies each day, it will advise and support TNA Media in all areas of its operations. TOI Group CEO, Ravi Dhariwal, said: “We are excited about this opportunity to partner with a new national daily and a young nation. We will work closely with our partners in The New Age to fulfill their commitment to produce a quality broadsheet while empowering the emerging South Africa. We are pleased and excited to be involved.”

Equally, TNA Media is both pleased and enthusiastic about teaming up with a highly influential and quality newspaper that has over 90% of its print run delivered directly to the door step. There are important lessons that need to be learned from this sales and distribution method. Never before have media houses in India and South Africa agreed to cooperate and collaborate on such a scale.

Printed in the international broadsheet size, The New Age will comprise a total of 32 pages. The first 16-page section covers headline news; provincial news; Africa and international news; entertainment; and sports pages. The second 16-page section will cover business news; labour; financial data; classifieds; further provincial news; features; and lifestyle.

The newspaper will have an initial daily print run of 170 000 copies and is targeted at LSMs 4-10 with the view to develop new markets and broaden the readership base of newspapers.

Atul Gupta, Executive Chairman of TNA Media, says: “The international broadsheet format makes for a more pleasurable reading experience due to its slimmer size and still delivers comprehensive news content. “It’s important to emphasise the product’s positioning of an honest and balanced approach to news gathering; reporting; and dissemination. There is certainly a gap in the South African market place for a new; fresh; innovative; and critically constructive national daily newspaper. We are optimistic The New Age will have a positive impact on the South African market.”

Advertising space will be sold per square centimetre as opposed to column centimetre, giving advertisers a lot more flexibility in the size of their advertisements. The paper will be printed in three different locations and distributed by the country’s leading distributor, reaching all corners of the country.

Within the next few months, TNA Media will have its own printing press, The Manroland, with a backend integration of SAP, which is one of the world’s most efficient printing systems. TNA Media has made the necessary investments in infrastructure and is serious about moving into the media business.

The New Age will be edited by Vuyo Mvoko, formerly SABC Group Political Editor and Business Day journalist with 20 years of hands on experience in the industry. Vuyo says, “The New Age will differentiate itself by presenting the widest range of news and information in a bold; accurate; and balanced manner. We will be critical, but fair and constructive. We will work towards raising the level of awareness and consciousness around issues affecting all the people of South Africa, and to celebrate the achievements of a united South Africa.”

Senior Advisor and Board Member of TNA Media, Dr Pahad, says: “An innovative departure is that this newspaper will carry news and information from all nine provinces on a daily basis. Some of South Africa’s leading commentators and analysts will contribute articles to The New Age on a regular basis.”

Appearing Sunday to Friday, The New Age will dedicate ten pages per issue covering all nine provinces.

The New Age will have an online version up and running by 1 September with dynamic and exciting content updated constantly.