The Sunday Times

The Sunday Times was originally launched as the New Observer in 1821, but rapidly underwent two name changes to become first the Independent Observer before settling on its present name in 1822.

It was the first of the Sundays to publish a colour supplement, as long ago as the early 1960s. It appears in broadsheet format and will continue to do so, according to its editorial staff, although its sister paper The Times shifted to tabloid shortly after making a similar commitment.

Perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t until 1966 that The Sunday Times and The Times came into common ownership. Both titles passed into Rupert Murdoch’s ownership in 1981; but the takeover was not referred to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission, perhaps because the Thatcher government feared that the newspapers might close altogether (as outgoing owner Lord Thomson had threatened) if the change of ownership was subjected to a lengthy legal process.

It used to share a website with The Times, but gained its own web presence in June 2010 when both sites started charging for online content (£1 for a day’s access, £2 for one week, although as of mid-June 2010 a free preview was available).

As well as the main UK edition, there are also Irish and overseas editions. Apps are also available for iPad and smartphones.

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