Metroland Media Group

Metroland Media Group

Type	Subsidiary of public company
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1981
Headquarters	3125 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Key people	Ian Oliver - President
Products	Newspapers, websites, commercial printing
Parent	Torstar
Website	www.metroland.com

Metroland Media Group, also referred to as Metroland (formerly Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing) is a publisher of daily and weekly community newspapers, as well as several specialty products and services, in the southern part of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is owned by Torstar Corporation of Toronto, Ontario.

History

Metroland is Southern Ontario's largest daily and community newspaper publisher.^{[citation needed]} It is the publisher of three daily and 111 weekly community newspapers in Ontario. Metroland also publishes local classified, news and shopping websites, and operates nine printing operations. The company is also one of the largest distributors of flyers and circulars.^{[citation needed]} The company also has specialty products which focus on a particular market segment and operates many consumer shows.^{[citation needed]}

Metroland Publishing was combined with CityMedia Group to create Metroland Media Group on September 11, 20061. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and the largest division of the company.^{[citation needed]}In November 2011 Metroland acquired Performance Printing of Smiths Falls, Ontario. After consolidation, this acquisition brought Metroland newspaper titles to 114 and editions to 147.

Business Segments

Metroland's regional and specialized business units can be grouped into five categories: Printing, Distributing, Digital Media, Newspapers and Consumer Marketing.

Printing

Metroland Printing is one of Canada's largest coldset printers with 9 plants across Southern Ontario, and services local, national and international clients, through printing coldweb products in a variety of sizes and formats. The printing plants are operated under an organizational structure known at Torstar Printing Group www.torstarprinting.com and print both internal newspaper publications and external commercial clients.

Distributing

Metroland Distributing sends out flyers, circulars, product samples and catalogues in southern, central and eastern Ontario. They deliver various products for most major department stores, food supermarkets and chain retailers as well as smaller retailers. Flyers are distributed to homes in an advertiser defined area.

While primarily using the local newspapers published by Metroland Publishing (5.02 million copies as of October, 2011), some flyers are delivered in bags and hung on apartment doors especially in apartment and condo buildings. The flyer distribution volumes were over 2.2 billion pieces in 2011. These distribution volumes have grown every year for the past 20 consecutive years.

Digital Media

Metroland Digital Media extends Metroland's operations to the World Wide Web. It manages all the community newspaper websites, classified websites, and a coupon and flyer website.

Newspapers

Metroland Publishing publishes over 114 community newspapers with 150 editions in Southern and Central Ontario as well as a group of specialty print products. The community newspapers are published in a variety of frequency which ranges from once a week to three times per week as well as 3 daily newspapers. The community newspapers provide local news while the dailies provide local, national and international news. The newspapers reached (before the merger with CityMedia) 53 markets Tuesday and Wednesday with 1.42 million circulation, 60 markets Thursday and Friday with 2.09 million circulation and 19 markets Saturday and Sunday with 1.07 million circulation. Metroland Media Group also produces specialty and custom publications such as local community guides, local magazines and business-focused publications.

Consumer Marketing

Metroland's Premier Publications and Shows division is based in Oakville, Ontario and has been publishing all-Canadian consumer content magazines since 1974 and now includes consumer shows and specialty marketing.

Publications include Carguide, World of Wheels, Canadian AutoWorld, Boatguide, Boating Business, West of the City and Ideal Home. Additionally, the company publishes travel guides for boaters under the PORTS Cruising Guides banner: PORTS Cruising Guide to Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands; PORTS Cruising Guide to Georgian Bay, the North Channel and Lake Huron; PORTS Cruising Guide to the Trent-Severn Waterway (including Lake Simcoe); and PORTS Cruising Guide to the Rideau Canal and lower Ottawa River.

Premier is one of the top 5 largest consumer show producers in Canada. Premier specializes in powerful niche market events and produces the largest Bridal, Travel and Golf consumer events in the country. Premier produces 9 major shows annually.

In addition to publications and shows, Premier also offers: Custom Publishing Solutions for select Fortune 500 clients, including content development, research, design and production in both English and French; Ride & Drive Events - showcasing vehicle launches for consumers and media alike on behalf of clients such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Nissan, KIA, Jeep and others; Brand Media Launches; Automotive Dealer Training - a program in a controlled classroom environment that’s designed to educate the dealership level sales force on how best to understand and relay the features and benefits of a manufacturer’s new model offering.

Metroland Newspapers

Toronto Region

Metroland South

Durham Region and Northumberland County

Kawartha Region

Metroland North Media

York Region

Metroland West

West Region Dailies

Eastern Ontario Region

Former papers

• News4Kids
• North Oakville Today

External links

• Metroland Media Group corporate site
• Torstar Corporation