"News International, owner of free daily thelondonpaper, and Associated Newspapers (London Lite) are participating in a ‘phoney’ expansion was in the UK. Both companies are trademarking their brands and registering Internet domain names in several are

"Sources at [Associated Newspapers] say plans are in place to take the Standard further upmarket and distinguish it more clearly from its free siblings."

It’s nice to see online metrics aren’t the only ones that provoke rows. Associated and News International are squabbling over teh sample size used by the National Readership Survey for their london freesheets.

Jon Hughes of the Ecologogist estimated that the London freesheets use "a little over 107 tonnes" of newsprint per day = 1,284 trees * 70% recycled paper = 899 dead trees per day.

"Associated Newspapers has stopped …Evening Standard vendors distributing … London Lite. According to media buyers, the move has been driven by declining sales of the Standard. Distribution will now be solely via London Lite distributors."

Peter Preston: [London councils' litter payment demands] could be a £2m-a-year extra burden for two free papers that aren’t making any money now, or for the foreseeable future."