The official announcement of the merger of Dublin morning freesheets Herald AM and Metro lacks any detail, as Markham Nolan writes here.

Back in March, The Irish Times business section had already reported it would be called Metro Herald, the deal would be subject to approval by the Competition Authority, and that Associated Newspapers, The Irish Times and Independent News and Media would own a third of the new paper. Nolan also gave his view on the merger back in March.

Of course, the business heads of each company are quoted to give a glowing review of the move. But the only new fact seems to be that the 145,000 copies of both freesheets combined distributed currently, will drop to “70,000 plus” copies of the new Metro Herald.