Metro International launches online ad service

by MediaWeek, Media Week 13-Apr-05, 10:00

Global free newspaper group Metro International has branched out into online advertising for the first time and launched Metro Modern Media, a classified portal to roll out across its network of countries.

The first of the group’s new sites has launched today in Sweden – which was also the first country to see Metro newspaper – and will feature around 900,000 classified ads, with plans for music downloads and dating in the future.

Metro International is expected to expand the service across its portfolio of 17 countries over the coming months, with Finland, Denmark and Holland set to be first in line.

Pelle Törnberg, president and chief executive of Metro International, said: “Online advertising and online services are some of the fastest-growing media segments globally.

“Metro International has been waiting for the right time to launch into this area and we believe that the current size, growth and profitability of online make this the perfect time.

“Our decision to establish Metro Modern Media and to launch Metro Market as our first product will strengthen our position as a leading media for all types of advertisers – from global brands to local consumers.”

There are no plans as yet to carry editorial content from the newspapers on the site or launch a UK-edition of the service.

By Kevin May