News International (NI) today unveiled its new free internet service, which is branded through the Sun and is dubbed CurrantBun.com. It has been expected for some time that NI, publisher of the Times, was to launch its own free internet service provider (ISP) (see News International Expected To Launch Free ISP Services); a Times-branded site is expected to follow CurrantBun.com.
NI formed the LineOne internet service with BT, but has now pulled out of the venture.
The Sun is the UK’s biggest-selling daily national newspaper, with a recent ABC audit of 3.6 million. The readership of the paper is even higher, at 9.3 million. This gives NI the potential to reach perhaps the largest number of potential Net users ever in one go.
David Yelland, editor of the Sun, says: “Everyone on the whole paper is very excited about the opportunities this will bring the paper. CurrantBun will complement the paper in many ways and will offer opportunities and content that are not in the paper and vice versa.”
The CurrantBun service also features unlimited email addresses, 25MB of web space and facilities to shop online for music, books, videos, travel and so on. Content for these features is being provided by Lycos, EMAP Online and The Learning Company, amongst others. The technology behind the service is being provided by News International subsidiary, Broadsystem Ventures.
Advertising sales are being handled by Real Media. Tim Brown, managing director at Real Media, says: “CurrantBun is undoubtedly the biggest UK web launch of 1999.”
News International rival, Mirror Group, also unveiled its new free ISP plans this afternoon with the launch of ic24.co.uk (see Mirror Group Announces New Media Division and Free ISP).
News International: 0171 782 6000
