Sun Website To Move Into Local Advertising

The relaunch of the Sun website next month will see the title attempt to move into the local advertising market.

The move comes as part of a wide-ranging customisable service on its website, said a report on MediaGuardian.co.uk.

The report says that the MyStreet feature will see News International, the Sun’s parent company, compete directly against Trinity Mirror and Daily Mail & General Trust, as well as local advertisers.

Details leaked to MediGuardian reveal that the service will ask users to sign up for free to a personalised homepage for their local area including maps, a virtual pub discussion area, a mailing list for residents and a dating service.

According to management estimates, only 10% of Sun readers use the Sun Online, whilst 2.8 million readers do not use the internet, according to data compiled for NGD by internet research firm TGI Net.

The latest ABC national newspaper figures, for July 2007, show that the Sun‘s circulation dropped 2.5% year on year, leaving its total figure at a little over 3.1 million (see ABC National Newspaper Round-Up: July 2007).

Visitors to the paper’s website increased by 0.2% month on month in June, to just over 9 million unique users (see Times Online Boosts Site Users).

News International: 020 7782 3922 www.newscorp.co.uk