India fends of Metro with Metro
Friday, March 2nd, 2007When it became clear that Metro International was looking in India for partners to start a free daily, leading English language dailies The Times of India (circulation 2.5 million) and the Hindustan Times (circulation 1.1 million) joined forces. Together they launched Metro Now on February 5: a 48-page morning tabloid with a circulation of 85,000 and a cover price of only one rupee (less than 2ct - even inexpensive by Indian standards). Plans are to increase circulation to 350,000. Also other companies are planning new tabloids (all leading traditional Indian newspapers are printed in broadsheet). Mumbai tabloid Mid Day will move also to Delhi, while also Today is planned for Delhi. Metro International needed a partner because foreign firms can only own one quarter of an Indian media company. Newspaper circulation in India went up from 59 million in 2001 to 79 million in 2005.
Recently The Wall Street Journal joined hands with Hindustain times to start business daily Mint
