Regional publisher ACM claims double-digit increases following the closure of its weekday print editions in western NSW, hailing the new model a “runaway success”.

Antony Catalano’s Australian Community Media announced in July that it would focus on digital publishing during the week with expanded weekend print editions of the (Orange) Central Western Daily, (Dubbo) Daily Liberal, and (Bathurst) Western Advocate from the following month.

Now marketing director Jarrah Petzold says weekend newspaper sales are up 19.3 per cent, and subscriber acquisitions have grown 16.9 per cent.

“Less than six months in, our digital plus weekend model has been embraced by these communities,” he said.

Commercially, the change has resulted in an average 21 per cent increase in the number of advertisers booking into the three weekend papers.

Enterprise sales director Damian Hetherington said feedback had been extremely positive. “The results reflect the strength of this proposition – giving advertisers engaging cross-platform environments to connect with local customers.”

Readers are offered a morning newsletter, catch-ups through the day via app or web, and a weekend paper including liftouts and sections including Explore travel, View real estate, racing form and TV Guide.

ACM claims Saturday average issue weekly of 5908 (CWD), 4979 (DL), and 3585 (WA); and monthly digital audience of 72,840 (CWD), 68,431 (DL), and 112,074 (WA) for the three mastheads.