News International May Drop London Freesheet Plans

According to a report in this morning’s Independent, News International has decided to ditch plans to launch a free daily newspaper for London. Much speculation has recently centred around the company’s plans to reincarnate the Today newspaper in order to combat Associated Newspaper’s just-launched London Metro, which is given away each morning on the capital’s Underground.

News International was this morning refusing to comment either way on its plans when contacted by Newsline. Metro, which launched on Monday, is seen as a defensive measure by Associated to prevent another publisher threatening its principal London newspaper, the Evening Standard, with a similar freesheet.

Associated is hoping that Metro will increase its initial print run from 100,000 to around 350,000 by April/May (see Associated Newspaper Delays Launch Of London Daily).

News International: 0171 782 6000 Associated Newspapers: 0171 938 6000