INDEPENDENT News & Media looks set to wind down the operations of Terenure Printers, a Dublin subsidiary that prints a number of titles for the Sir Tony O’Reilly-controlled group. INM is expected to shift the contracts for the Sunday Tribune, the Sunday World and the daily and Sunday versions of the Irish Star to the more modern printing presses of the Belfast Telegraph, another INM subsidiary. The move is expected later this year.

This would allow the newspapers to become full-colour publications, thereby boosting their value to advertisers. It could, however, hit Saturday night sales in Dublin of the Sunday papers given that they will have to travel an extra 100 miles. Terenure Printers was incorporated in 1974 and its directors include Gavin O’Reilly and Liam Healy, both INM board members. It’s not a done deal, however. INM has yet to thrash out an agreement with the trade unions representing printers in Terenure, who can be expected to strike a hard bargain.

New name, new international image

Fleishman-Hillard Saunders is to shed the name of its Irish founder as part of a Europe-wide rebranding exercise by its parent. The public relations agency, which employs 40 staff in Dublin, will become Fleishman-Hillard, similar to its 13 sister agencies in Europe.

The Irish firm was founded by John Saunders in 1990 and acquired by Fleishman-Hillard in 2001. Rhona Blake has been appointed as general manager, reporting to Saunders, who combines his role as managing director of the Irish firm with that of regional director for Fleishman-Hillard Europe. Recent client wins for FHS include William Fry Solicitors; Eli Lilly, an American pharmaceutical company; and Reckitt Benckiser, where it will manage Gaviscon, its heartburn and indigestion medicine.

Viewing figures are Sky high

Too much Sky News can soon become repetitive but its extensive 24-hour news coverage of the big international news stories can make it compulsive viewing. The death of Pope John Paul II is a classic example. Between 6am on Friday, April 1, and midnight on Sunday, April 3, when the Pope’s death dominated the headlines, Sky News was watched by 1,053,000 viewers in Ireland, according to figures from AC Nielsen. That represents about 28% of the population, an impressive percentage for a dedicated news service, and doesn’t include out-of-home viewing. News Corporation, which owns 35.4% of BSkyB, also owns The Sunday Times. It should be remembered that Sky News is available to only two-thirds of Irish households, via cable or satellite.

This compares favourably with the 2m-plus that both RTE1 and TV3 attracted over the same period. Both channels are available to the entire population and as entertainment channels would reach a greater audience. For

Sky, this represents a 45% rise on the 725,000 viewers who, on average, tuned in over the same time frame in the first three months of this year.

Irish Times goes international

The Irish Times will this week launch an international edition in the UK market. The D’Olier Street broadsheet has signed a contract with a printer in London to publish a slimmed-down version of the paper for expatriates. Deadlines for Dublin-based news journalists have been brought forward as copy needs to be in London by 10.30pm. The Irish Times hopes to pick up several thousand new sales. The paper has not been circulated in the UK since the rationalisation of the group in 2002. The Irish Independent, meanwhile, will this week drop its broadsheet format in Britain and offer only a compact edition.

Wanted ads hit billboards

After seven years without any significant outdoor advertising push in Ireland, Wrangler, the country’s No 2 jeanswear brand, has launched a €250,000 campaign to support its latest clothing range. The billboard ads will run over the next two weeks, while a four-week campaign is planned for buses and the Dart as well as mesh banner wraps on buildings in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. These will be supported by radio promotions and a variety of stunt activities.

This forms part of Wrangler’s pan-European campaign that was created by BSUR, an Amsterdam- based agency. Under the title Wanted, it seeks to move Wrangler away from its traditional cowboy image and give it a more modern and edgy feel. Media buying is being handled by Mediaedge:cia in Dublin and publicity by O’Leary PR and Marketing.