ABC National Newspaper Round-Up – March 2004

The Guardian‘s decision not to launch a tabloid edition appears to be paying dividends for the title following a healthy 1.8% month on month increase in circulation to 376,287, according the latest ABC results for March.

Last month the paper’s editor, Alan Rusbridger, reiterated that he has no plans to unveil a compact edition similar to those recently launched by the Independent. However, he hinted that he could be considering launching a midsize edition somewhere between a compact and a broadsheet in an attempt to reverse declining sales (see Guardian Considers Midsize Edition To Boost Sales).

The Independent continued to go from strength to strength with circulation increasing by 0.6% during the same period to 258,012. The paper’s rising sales have been almost solely attributed to its tabloid edition and reports suggest the scaled-down version now accounts for more than half of all copies sold.

The Times also reaped the benefits of its compact incarnation with circulation rising by 0.4% month on month during March to 658,637. The paper also looks set to benefit from an exclusive distribution deal with Starbucks to sell its tabloid edition in over 300 of the coffee company’s stores around the country (see Times Secures Distribution Deal With Starbucks).

The Daily Telegraph experienced a healthy 1.8% increase in circulation to 923,042, but speculation suggests this could be the result of an increase in bulk sales and foreign distribution. Rumours have been circulating that the newspaper could be the third broadsheet to go tabloid with £8 million rumoured to be set aside for a compact launch. However, Telegraph managing director, Hugo Drayton, claims no decision has been made.

Meanwhile, Trinity Mirror’s flagship tabloid Daily Mirror saw circulation inch up by 0.3% month on month. The increase comes in the face of a recent 3p coverprice rise to 35p, which makes the paper 5p more expensive than News International’s Sun (see Daily Mirror Coverprice To Rise As Group Profits Increase).

The Sun failed to benefit from its new price advantage with circulation dipping by 1.9% during March to 3,333,215. Earlier this week aBelinda Furneaux-Harris stepped down from her role as marketing director at title just nine months after taking up the job (see Mirror Denies Watson Will Defect To Rival News Group).

Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail felt the squeeze in the mid-market with a slight 0.4% dip in circulation to 2,398,093. However, its Sunday sibling recorded a notable 1.3% increase during the same period to 2,381,626. Richard Desmond’s Sunday Express proved less fortunate with a 2.7% month on month decline to 952,171.

Quality Titles

The Business put in another strong performance in the six months to March with circulation increasing by 200.1% year on year to 279,823. The paper, owned by the reclusive Barclay brothers, recently saw its distribution deal with the Mail On Sunday come to an end in a move that could have a significant impact on sales (see Associated Ends Distribution Deal With The Business).

At the other end of the scale, the Sunday Telegraph saw circulation fall by 6.7% during the same period to 703,086. The newspaper remains at the centre of an ownership wrangle, as the assets of parent company Hollinger International are sold to the highest bidder. Earlier this week Hollywood media magnate Haim Saban and German publisher Axel Springer joined the list of bidders vying for control of Hollinger (see Two New Bidders Battle For Control Of Hollinger).

Mid-Market Titles

The Daily Mail was the only mid market title not to suffer a loss in the six months to March with circulation holding firm at 2,441,694. The Daily Express suffered a 2.4% decrease during the same period to 942,979. Last month Richard Desmond, owner of the Express Newspapers Group withdrew from the race to take control of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph from Hollinger International (see Desmond Withdraws From Telegraph Race).

Popular Titles

Tabloid titles saw circulation fall across the board in the six months to March, with the exception of the Daily Star, which saw sales improve by 9.7% year on year to 884,387. News International’s Sun suffered 4.5% decline in circulation to just under 3.4 million, but Sport First was the worst hit with sales falling by 25.4% year on year to 26,678.

Metro Titles

The Associated Newspaper-owned Metro titles performed strongly during March, with their overall certified distribution increasing of 4.8% year on year to just under 902,000. Free-sheet newspapers continue to increase in popularity and are now read by almost 20% of the urban population in eleven cities across Europe, according to Metro International’s annual readership study (see Free-Sheet Newspapers Continue To See Readership Rise).

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