TfL delays Tube newspaper contract

The race appears not be on for a new free morning paper for the London Underground. Metro's contract with TfL runs out in March 2010 and prospective bidders were supposed to have heard by December last year, whether they were successful or not. Associated Newspapers, who own Metro are thought to have bid for the contract. However as we've seen the closure of a number of evening free sheets, it appears that other usual suspects aren't interested.


News International (who published the Londonpaper) and the owner of the Evening Standard are understood not to be bidding - according to Brand Republic.

An announcement as to who will get the contract (which was worth £1 million) will be made in due course. Who knows, maybe the publishers of the mysterious London Weekly (a free sheet due to launch this evening and every Saturday) will make a bid?


It certainly looks like there won't be worry about another new morning title being left on the Tube and that Metro will be the only one. Wonder if Metro will able to get the contract for less if there aren't any other bidders? I believe it was the only profitable London free-sheet, so they could make even more out of it.