Metro Launch Causes Media Frenzy
As is often the case in these times, the most frightening word to many businesses is "free". Nowhere is this more often seen than in the world of print media.
With the growth of the Internet many print publications have seen their circulation decrease to alarming numbers. A number of major and well respected newspapers have decided to fold. Why should someone pay for something that they can get for free? Many newspapers have themselves offered free online editions of their papers in direct competition to their own print editions.
If the threat from the Internet was not enough, along comes Metro, a free daily newspaper which released its first edition today in the Greater Philadelphia area. Metro will be distributed at SEPTA transit stations and eventually onboard SEPTA buses. The paper's initial circulation numbers 150,000. The paper is funded solely by advertising revenue.
Metro's Premier Edition 01/24/00
Photo by John Fischer
Seeing this as a direct threat to their existence, lawyers representing the publishers of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, U.S.A. Today and the New York Times filed an action in Federal Court to block SEPTA from giving what they considered to be a competitive advantage to a free newspaper.
SEPTA has signed a five-year contract with TPI Metro PA. Part of the contract allows SEPTA to produce one page in each edition, however, aside from that page SEPTA has no control over any other aspect of the paper.
In a late day decision, U.S. District Court Judge Robert F. Kelly declined to issue a restraining order to prevent distribution of Metro. It is unclear what further steps the print newspapers may take.
Designed to be read by a commuter during the length of his trip on public transportation, Metro is concise, easy-to-read and filled with lots of color. Today's premier edition consisted of 23 pages of news, weather, jobs, money, sports and entertainment.
While the paper promises one in-depth two-page feature each day, most articles average only several paragraphs in length. The weather section and daily TV grid are particularly well done and will likely be reader favorites.
Metro is the brainchild of Pelle Anderson and Robert Braunerhielm, two Swedish reporters who came up with the idea which launched in Stockholm, Sweden in 1995. Metro is now Sweden's second-largest paper with a readership of 640,000 people daily. The parent company of Metro is Modern Times Group (MTG).
While Philadelphia marks Metro's first venture in the United States, additional editions are highly successful in numerous European countries including the Czech Republic, Finland, Great Britain, Hungary, and the Nethelands. MTG has plans to expand into additional U.S. cities based on their results in the Philadelphia market.
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Related NetLinks
Daily
Metro Transit Newspaper Is Coming to North America
From the American Public Transportation Corporation an article on the
arrival of Metro in North America.
Modern Times Group
Home Page
The Home Page of the parent company of Metro.
Swedish
firm plans a daily paper for commuters
From the business section of the Philadelphia Inquirer.