Last September, when t.o.night burst onto the daily free paper scene in Toronto, it proclaimed that it had a leg up on its competition (that being Metro and 24 Hours).
Not only was t.o.night going to be printed on pretty, glossy paper, it was also going to come out in the afternoon — giving Toronto commuters news for their ride home and updating stories that the morning papers miss, or would not have the most recent updates for.
Founder John Cameron told the Globe and Mail last summer:
I don’t think Toronto could support another free morning paper because it wouldn’t be unique enough. But the afternoon is open.
Not only would commuters be getting news (that we are assuming they also didn’t read online at work throughout the day), but t.o.night would also give them ideas on things to do that night — and where they were happening. They’d also print a recipe in case you wanted a dinner idea.
It’s been nearly a year since t.o.night‘s launch, and while their newspaper boys are just quietly shoving the paper in commuters’ hands instead of yelling “Extra, extra,” I wanted to see what else is different at t.o.night.
Is its content really that different?
Here’s a comparison from the Tuesday, June 1 editions of all three papers:
Metro
Front Page:
- Main story on flotilla attack
- Brief on CAA offering assistance to cyclists
- Story on Toronto protest at Israeli consulate
- Main photo was standalone of beach volleyball player at the beach.
- Strip ad for new Global news
Flipping through, Metro was a total of 28 pages, covering news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle. When they didn’t have room for a story, they sold to the web for it with their smartphone chips. Also, the full-page Global Toronto News ad was on Page 2 of Metro.
24 Hours
Front Page:
- Was an ad for Future Shop, so we flip to Page 2.
- Standalone photo of Take Your Bike to Work Day, sells to full story on Page 3.
- Sells to story on the flotilla attack and Celine Dion’s pregnancy
- Page 3 is all local news, nearest flotilla story is page 10.
Like Metro, 24 Hours had a mix of news, entertainment, business, lifestyle, sports and even some travel news. It was a total of 30 pages long (c0unting full page ads).
t.o.night
Front Page:
- Full page ad for Global News Toronto, so we turn to Page 2.
- Main story was Bank of Canada hiking interest rate to 0.5% — the other two papers, obviously, did not have this since this did happen during the day. Metro did not have anything in saying the hike was expected, though 24 Hours did mention in one of their stories on their business page that the Bank of Canada would decide to raise its interest rate at a meeting that day.
- Secondary story was the OLG expenses. Neither Metro, nor 24 Hours had the story (however, QMI Agency, which owns 24 Hours, did write about the expenses in a report last week).
Otherwise, t.o.night has its what’s on at what subway station, entertainment, business, travel and sports. It was a total 25 pages.
While t.o.night‘s top stories were different from the rest of the free commuter pack, the whole package wasn’t entirely that much different. It would be interesting to see if Wednesday’s t.o.night has anything on the blackout that happened in downtown Toronto today — or if that occurred before their deadlines.
Any thoughts on the free commuter papers in Toronto or other cities?
Toronto’s free daily papers: Does timing matter?
Not only was t.o.night going to be printed on pretty, glossy paper, it was also going to come out in the afternoon — giving Toronto commuters news for their ride home and updating stories that the morning papers miss, or would not have the most recent updates for.
Founder John Cameron told the Globe and Mail last summer:
Not only would commuters be getting news (that we are assuming they also didn’t read online at work throughout the day), but t.o.night would also give them ideas on things to do that night — and where they were happening. They’d also print a recipe in case you wanted a dinner idea.
It’s been nearly a year since t.o.night‘s launch, and while their newspaper boys are just quietly shoving the paper in commuters’ hands instead of yelling “Extra, extra,” I wanted to see what else is different at t.o.night.
Is its content really that different?
Here’s a comparison from the Tuesday, June 1 editions of all three papers:
Metro
Flipping through, Metro was a total of 28 pages, covering news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle. When they didn’t have room for a story, they sold to the web for it with their smartphone chips. Also, the full-page Global Toronto News ad was on Page 2 of Metro.
24 Hours
Front Page:
Like Metro, 24 Hours had a mix of news, entertainment, business, lifestyle, sports and even some travel news. It was a total of 30 pages long (c0unting full page ads).
t.o.night
Otherwise, t.o.night has its what’s on at what subway station, entertainment, business, travel and sports. It was a total 25 pages.
While t.o.night‘s top stories were different from the rest of the free commuter pack, the whole package wasn’t entirely that much different. It would be interesting to see if Wednesday’s t.o.night has anything on the blackout that happened in downtown Toronto today — or if that occurred before their deadlines.
Any thoughts on the free commuter papers in Toronto or other cities?