| Type | Public (OMX: MTROA, (OMX: MTROB) |
|---|---|
| Format | Compact |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg |
| Official website | www.metro.lu |
Metro International is a Swedish media company based in Luxembourg that publishes the Metro newspapers. Metro International's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 41% since launch of the first newspaper edition in 1995.[1] It is a freesheet, meaning that distribution is free, with revenues thus generated entirely through advertising. This newspaper is primarily intended for commuters who move daily in and out of big cities' business areas, mainly during rush hours.
The company was founded by Per Andersson and started as a subsidiary of the Modern Times Group along with Viasat Broadcasting. It is now controlled through investment company Kinnevik. The first edition of the newspaper was published as Metro Stockholm and distributed in the Stockholm Metro.
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As of October 2009, there were 56 daily editions in 19 countries in 15 languages across Europe, North and South America and Asia, for an audience of more than 17 million daily readers and 37 million weekly readers.[1]
Metro newspaper editions are distributed in high-traffic commuter zones or in public transport networks via a combination of self-service racks and by hand distributors on weekdays. Saturday editions are published in Stockholm, Santiago, São Paulo and Lima. The distribution points are located either in or around public transport networks (subways, trains, buses, trams), office buildings, retail outlets, at key distribution points on busy streets, or in other high-density population areas such as college campuses.
The local name of the Metro newspaper editions may vary due to trademark issues. Peruvian, Chilean and Mexican editions are called Publimetro and the Spanish edition is named Metro Directo. Another freesheet called Metro is published in twelve areas around Britain by Associated Newspapers: see Metro (Associated Metro Limited).
In the UK, this is not related to Metro International, which used the name Morning News for its (now defunct) freesheet distributed there. Metro International and Associated Metro do however collaborate on the Dublin Metro newspaper (launched 10 October 2005), which they both own a third of, along with The Irish Times. The Dublin Metro newspaper uses the Associated Metro logo and format, however.[2] It is reported that Metro International has plans to launch a rival free evening newspaper in London.
Metro International launched several editions in Canada during 2000, leading to the creation of several commuter newspaper competitors, such as Sun Media's 24 Hours.
Not all newspapers named Metro are part of the Metro International group. For example, in Belgium Concentra publishes the free daily newspaper Metro and in Caliifornia Metro Silicon Valley is a free weekly newspaper founded in 1985, neither of which have links to Metro International.
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