YES - Liam Mullins, head of press, The7Stars
If you were to have a stack of freesheets (London Lite and thelondonpaper) and a stack of the Evening Standard - all free - outside a station, the pick-up rate of the Standard would outstrip the other two by a country mile.
Its content is miles better, sports coverage is fantastic and it can get you from Charing Cross to Lewisham with pages to spare.
The trouble is that few people know this, so sampling is one way to get people to start purchasing again.
We recently conducted some research - The Sandwich Report - which showed that 60% of consumers preferred paid-for newspapers to freesheets.
So, if the product is right and it appeals to its audience, there is still an opportunity for the Standard to grow. The paper is in a unique position, with a new owner who is willing to innovate and invest in the brand.
YES - Andy Taylor, associate director and head of magazines, Carat
There is an awful lot of reader duplication between the freesheets, and a revitalised Evening Standard can only be a good thing for readers and advertisers alike.
Its new pricing and distribution strategy is more about getting copies of the Standard into the hands of the right audience - not merely increasing circulation.
It makes sense to target key demographics such as theatre-goers on their way home or key transport hubs with free or reduced-price copies, because it fits with the Standard's "quality" target reader profile.
Now for a reduced price or even free, you don't have to compromise on what you read on your journey home, whatever time that may be.
The Standard's planned move will increase its circulation, which in turn will obviously mean a better return on investment for clients.
I applaud this aggressive circulation approach from the Standard.
NO - Chris Pelekanou, sales director, Guardian News & Media
If the Evening Standard were to use its new pricing and distribution models as the only strategies to improve its fortunes, then it will have some success, albeit limited.
But it needs to do more. Instead of just being about price, the new focus needs to be on providing stimulating editorial that reflects London life for those who live and work in the capital.
Free distribution around tube stations, theatres and upmarket restaurants will certainly help, but readers want to see content that reflects this vibrant, exciting city.
With editorial that enhances the London experience, alongside an interesting pricing and distribution strategy, the Standard could see its fortunes improve.
This will put the freesheets under even more pressure.
YES - Vanessa Doyle, press director, Initiative
Any dramatic action by a newspaper to help boost performance, if done well, is a step in the right direction.
All agencies want to do on behalf of our advertisers is target large numbers of our desired audience within a good quality environment, so more quality readers should mean more ads for the Standard. Sadly, its trading team will struggle to see significant yield recompense for any circulation increases achieved because it will be making these wins in a market that is generally suffering.
However, the Standard may see lost advertisers returning. It will be imperative for it to retain its high-quality editorial and not fall victim to the celebrity focus of the London Lite and thelondonpaper.
However, if the end result is an improvement in readership and quality distribution figures, agencies will be happy with the Standard's distribution and pricing changes.