Torstar-Metro’s paper will begin publishing on March 5, and Metro Edmonton will follow on April 2. The papers will have a circulation of about 60,000 and will target ‘young’ urban adults, aged between 18 and 49.

The day before Torstar-Metro’s announcement, CanWest (the country’s largest newspaper owner, publishing the Calgary Herald) launched its own Calgary free daily tabloid, Calgary RushHour.

These developments raise the question of market saturation in Calgary and Edmonton. At the same time, both regions are among the fastest-growing economic areas in Canada, with a 4% annual growth rate – twice the national average.

"Metro has always had a plan in mind for a national brand extended across as many markets as reasonably possible and Calgary and Edmonton are the fifth and sixth largest markets and the next obvious step for us," explained Bill McDonald, Metro publisher for English Canada.

"All four of our present Metros in Canada are stable and strong and with the robust economic environment in Alberta it is time to move into Calgary and Edmonton," he added.

Metro has newspapers in six main Canadian cities. Total circulation for metro editions will near 750,000 once distribution begins in Calgary and Edmonton.

Source: Toronto Star through Ifra - Fading to Black