DMN News: Sun-Times sells subs with Cubs

The Chicago Sun-Times is using its collectible magazine on the 2008 Chicago Cubs as a premium to draw in new subscribers.

...“We have in the past offered premiums if you subscribe to the paper,” said Courtney Price, senior director, consumer sales and retention, Chicago Sun-Times. “We do that because subscribers are very valuable, especially high-quality customers, so it’s worthwhile to. We’ve tied this in with a very big promotional push aligned with the Cubs, where we also gave away rooftop tickets to the first two playoff games and are inserting free cheer cards in the papers.

In-house ads in the Sun-Times are promoting the offer. Each of the Sun-Times News Group’s 10 community papers — including the Courier News and the Beacon News — are also running individually branded ads that offer the magazine in exchange for subscriptions. Two of the newspaper’s sports columnists are hyping the offer on their morning radio show, and other radio options are being explored.

“Ideally, we’re hoping, with the tie to the Cubs, to attract a slightly younger demographic than our traditional audience,” Price added.

Which consists of three ditch-faced drunks rail drooping at Schaller’ Pump trying to remember what the C stood for in Oscar C. Reichow.