BERTRANGE, Luxembourg, May 7, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metro International S.A. ("Metro"), the international newspaper group, today announced the continuation of its organic expansion in France with the launch of a new edition in Bordeaux. Bordeaux is the seventh largest city in France and Metro already publishes daily editions in the five largest French cities -- Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Lille.
30,000 copies of Metro are being distributed in Bordeaux this morning by hand in the city centre, on university campuses and along the City's tramways and bus routes, establishing Metro as one of the largest newspapers in the city and the region. Bordeaux is one of France's major commercial and tourist centres and is the regional capital of the South West of France.
Metro now has a combined daily circulation of over 550,000 copies in France and covers two thirds of the country's urban population. Based on Metro's established number of readers per copy, the French editions will now attract approximately 1.8 million daily readers. Metro France delivers a consistently young, active and well-educated daily audience, with an equal number of male and female readers, of which half are under the age of 35. The newspaper advertising market in France is estimated to be worth US$ 1.4 billion annually.
Pelle Tornberg, President and CEO, commented: ``This launch continues our strategy of extending our coverage in existing Metro markets. Metro's presence in six of the largest cities in Europe's third largest advertising market enables us to deliver a unique daily reach of young, urban, upscale readers to our advertisers".
Leading European broadcaster Television Francaise 1 SA acquired a 34.3% holding in Metro's French operations in 2003.
For further information, please visit www.metro.lu, email info@metro.lu or contact: Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO tel: +44 (0) 20 7016 1300
Matthew Hooper, Investor & Press Relations tel: +44 (0) 20 7321 5010
Metro is the largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. 36 Metro editions are published in more than 100 cities in 16 countries in 15 languages across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated audience of more than 14 million daily readers and over 30 million weekly readers. Metro has an equal number of male and female readers and 70% are under the age of 45. Metro's advertising sales have grown at a compound annual rate of 47% since the launch of the first edition in 1995.
Metro International S.A. `A' and `B' shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen `O-List' under the symbols MTROA and MTROB.
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