The Evening Standard is understood to be working on a free daily
listings title, which it intends to launch across London next month.
Called the Metro, the free-sheet is likely to be published on weekdays,
building on the heritage of the Standard’s magazine-style listings
supplement, Hot Tickets.
The Standard is believed to have been testing the waters for its
freesheet with its price promotion over the past few weeks on Thursdays
- the same day as the publication of Hot Tickets.
The price cut from 35p to 10p has led to a big increase in sales. On 29
October, the newspaper achieved a circulation of 734,000, which compares
with its average ABC for September of 443,289.
Any launch would threaten the grip of the long-standing listings
publication, Time Out, on the capital’s listings market.
Sue Minnikin, the advertisement director of the Standard, refused to
confirm or deny the plans.
