International copies, printed in New York, Frankfurt, Madrid, Malta and Cyprus, will cease printing October 1, GNM announced Friday.
The international audience of both publications is significant: According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, 7.3% (19,097) and 6.0% (17,716) of The Guardian's and The Observer's respective copies were purchased by readers outside of the UK and Ireland in May.
GNM's executive director Adam Freeman cited "reasons of demand and cost" for the cut. The company has been steadily reducing the number of foreign copies it produces since last year.
“This is one of a number of steps that will allow us to focus our efforts and resources on digital platforms and subscription-based products, including our forthcoming launches on Kindle and iPad, that will deliver growth among our UK and international audiences,” he added.
Neither paper has yet finalized launch dates for its much-belated editions on the iPad and Kindle, but early October now appears to be a tentative deadline, according to PaidContent.
Those adamantly opposed to getting their news digitally need not despair, however: The Guardian Weekly, a print digest of highlights from The Guardian, The Observer, Le Monde and The Washington Post, will be broadening its international circulation to match an expected increase in demand.