Pelle Tornberg: Free vs Paid Newspapers
Nov 17, 2008
Pelle Tornberg, former CEO of the Sweden-based free newspaper giant Metro International, argues that free and paid newspapers both have a role moving forward. Paid newspapers, however, need to radically change their business model.
Metro claims to be the largest newspaper in the world, with 70 daily editions in more than 100 major cities in 20 countries in 18 languages with an audience of more than 20 million daily readers.
Metro has lately come under much financial pressure and the whole advertising-based model of free newspapers has been put into question with the advertising downturn.
Free newpapers, Pelle argues in this video, will survive the downturn and eventually thrive again. The market leaders will do best since launching a new publication has high barriers to entry in terms of capital.
Paid newspapers, for Pelle, must change their model radically to include exclusive information, increase the cover price and reduce circulation.
“Free TV and free newspapers are used Monday to Friday while the pay TV, paid newspapers and paid magazine become the weekend reading. When I say paid, they might be sponsored, your company or an advertiser paying for it.”










Thomas Crampton was a correspondent for the
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