Free newspaper war continues

Murdoch Jumps Into Free Newspaper War

A freer press? Just before dusk on Monday, reps from the newspaper empire controlled by Rupert Murdoch were deployed throughout London to hand out free evening newspapers to busy commuters.

As they took the colorful tabloid, the harrowed travellers were taking part in a brand new newspaper war. Launched that day by News International, thelondonpaper was going head-to-head with another evening freebie, introduced a week earlier by Viscount Rothermere's Associated Newspapers. The timing of London Lite was said by its owners to have been a fortuitous coincidence, but many on Fleet Street saw a savvy attempt to spoil Murdoch's plans.

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New Free UK Daily Site Launches with Four Sponsors

Even across the pond newspaper publishers are launching free metro commuter papers in an effort to fight for a shrinking pool of print ad dollars. The latest to take the plunge is News Corporation's UK division News International, publisher of The Times, The Sun and other British papers. An Editor and Publisher piece notes thelondonpaper, an afternoon daily, planned an initial run of over 400,000 copies.

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Web site thelondonpaper

Murdoch Launches New Free Daily As 'Combat' Breaks Out

LONDON Global media tycoon Rupert Murdoch yesterday launched thelondonpaper, diving into London's already crowded market for free newspapers -- a relatively new but increasingly lucrative source of media revenue.

The afternoon daily faces fierce competition from the newly launched London Lite, published by Associated Newspapers, a part of Daily Mail and General Trust PLC.

"It's gladiatorial combat," said Roy Greenslade, a professor of journalism at City University in London, "and consumers and advertisers are going to be sitting in the colosseum."

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