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Metro International is distributing copies of the daily paper from racks in busy central locations in Manhattan as well as key commuter routes into the city. Metro International claims that Metro New York will attract 850,000 daily readers, based on its average of 2.8 readers per copy.

The launch follows the development of editions in Philadelphia and Boston, where Metro is the second and first most read daily newspaper respectively.

In March, Brand Republic reported that Stefano Hatfield, the former editor of ±±¾©Èü³µpk10, had been appointed as editor of the New York launch. Henry Scott, a former New York Times Company executive and president of Out magazine has been named publisher.

Speculation around the possible launch of a New York title by Metro heightened last October when Tribune Company launched its free tabloid newspaper, amNew York.

The talk had been fuelled by ads that Metro International had been running in The New York Times looking for staff as part of an expansion of its East Coast operations.

Pelle Tornberg, president and chief executive officer said: "The dynamism, vibrancy and diversity of the city are what Metro is all about. 27% of New York's citizens were born outside the US and 20% of our group sales are already generated from multinational advertising clients. Our presence in New York will increase the reach and coverage that Metro US offers to advertisers as well as increasing our access to global media spend."

The company is also launching a Metro US sales package this week, enabling clients to buy packaged advertising space and solutions from Metro's three Eastern seaboard editions – New York City, Boston and Philadelphia. The three editions will have a combined daily circulation of 620,000 copies. The three cities generate combined gross annual newspaper adspend of $7bn.

Last month, Metro International posted an operating profit of $435,000 for the first quarter of the year, on the back of a 51% rise in sales.

The title publishes 35 editions in more than 100 cities across Europe, North and South America and Asia.

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