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National Newspapers Continue To Struggle

National Newspapers Continue To Struggle

Newspapers

Daily Market.

The nation’s daily newspaper market continued to perform badly with the sector as a whole losing 2.52% of sales year on year. Overall the market saw just three newspapers increase their circulation, with the Times, Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail managing to push their sales up.

The Daily Telegraph retained its position as market leader in the quality titles, reporting a slight increase in circulation figures.

Mid Market paper, the Daily Express suffered the largest decline out of the daily papers, dropping by 11% year on year.

Meanwhile, despite dropping slightly by 1%, the Sun remained Britains favourite daily newspaper, commanding an audience of over 3.34 million.

National Newspaper ABC Figures – July 2005
Daily Titles Jul-04 Jul-05 Actual Change % Change
Quality        
Daily Telegraph 904,981 912,319 7,338 0.8
Financial Times 421,179 410,306 -10,873 -2.6
Guardian 371,129 358,345 -12,784 -3.4
Independent 262,086 255,603 -6,483 -2.5
Times 650,448 698,043 47,595 7.3
Mid Market        
Daily Express 939,384 835,937 -103,447 -11.0
Daily Mail 2,418,743 2,420,601 1,858 0.1
Popular        
Daily Mirror 1,816,908 1,752,948 -63,960 -3.5
Daily Record 485,802 464,064 -21,738 -4.5
Daily Star 919,103 889,860 -29,243 -3.2
Sun 3,378,306 3,343,486 -34,820 -1.0
Total Daily 9,958,246 9,706,896 -251,350 -2.52

Quality Daily Titles.

The Times continued the strong growth enjoyed in last month’s ABC’s, reporting a 7.3% year on year increase, taking its circulation up to 698,043. The Daily Telegraph also gained readers, with a 0.8% rise for the same period.

Elsewhere, the Guardian dropped by 3.4% year on year, seeing its circulation dip to 358,345. The Financial Times and Independent followed suit, losing 2.6% and 2.5%, respectively.

Mid Market Daily Titles.

The mid market titles offered mixed results, with the Daily Express suffering the largest decline out of all the daily papers, dropping by 11% year on year, down to a circulation total of 835,937. The Daily Mail, however, managed to scrape up 0.1%, increasing its sales by just under 2,000.

Popular Daily Titles.

The popular daily newspaper division saw drops across the board, with all papers in the sector losing circulation.

The Daily Record and Daily Mirror lost 4.5% and 3.5% year on year, respectively, while the Daily Star also dipped by 3.2% in the same period, taking its circulation down to 889,860.

Meanwhile, the Sun followed the decline, losing 1% year on year, but retaining its position as Britain’s favourite daily title.

Sunday Market.

The depression seen in the daily newspaper market continued over into the Sunday sector, with all newspapers apart from two reporting declines in circulation figures, resulting in the market losing 3% as a whole.

The Sunday Times saw the biggest increase in circulation, enjoying an increase of 2.6% and further strengthening its dominance in the quality paper market.

Elsewhere, the Daily Star Sunday reported the biggest loss, dropping a dramatic 13.5% year on year, while the mid market saw similar declines, with the Sunday Express going down by 10%.

National Newspaper ABC Figures – July 2005
Sunday Titles Jul-04 Jul-05 Actual Change % Change
Quality        
Independent On Sunday. 209,003 206,689 -2,314 -1.1
Observer 441,193 445,738 4,545 1.0
Sunday Times 1,304,600 1,338,616 34,016 2.6
Sunday Telegraph 692,021 682,900 -9,121 -1.3
Mid Market        
Mail On Sunday. 2,412,785 2,261,511 -151,274 -6.3
Sunday Express 985,457 887,401 -98,056 -10.0
Popular        
Daily Star Sunday. 500,274 432,600 -67,674 -13.5
News Of The World 3,706,972 3,701,988 -4,984 -0.1
People 1,022,243 976,194 -46,049 -4.5
Sunday Mirror 1,569,781 1,548,851 -20,930 -1.3
Total Sunday 11,274,548 10,933,637 -340,911 -3.0

Quality Sunday Titles.

The quality papers produced mixed results for the Sunday market, with the Sunday Times and Observer both gaining 2.6% and 1% respectively.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph lost 1.3% year on year, followed by the Independent On Sunday which dropped by 1.1%, taking its circulation to 206,689.

Mid Market Sunday Titles.

The downwards trend continued into the mid market sector, with the Mail On Sunday and Sunday Express losing 6.3% and 10% respectively. The titles now command circulations of 2,261,511 and 887,401 respectively.

Popular Sunday Titles.

Once again, the Daily Star Sunday, saw the biggest drop in sales, losing 13.5% year on year, pushing its total down to 432,600.

Meanwhile, the People lost 4.5% of its circulation to total 976,194, while market leading News of the World retained its position in the top spot during July, despite a sales drop of just 0.1%.

Elsewhere, the Sunday Mirror dropped by 1.3% year on year and now commands a circulation of 1,548,851.

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