ABC National Newspaper Round-Up: June 2009

Daily Newspaper Market

The daily newspaper market was up by almost 1% period on period in June, although it was down by 2.5% on June 2008, according to the latest ABCs.

The Daily Star managed to record the strongest year on year circulation increase in June and was also up period on period.

Quality Daily Titles

The Financial Times and Guardian remained relatively static period on period, at around 412,000 and 336,000 respectively, although both were down year on year.

The Times was also static period on period, although it was down 3.4% year on year to 590,900 copies.

It was a similar story with the Daily Telegraph, which was largely static month on month but shed 3.5% of its circulation year on year, to leave its total at around 835,000.

The Independent was down 2% period on period and suffered a large year on year decline of around 14%, leaving its total circulation at around 200,000 copies.

Mid-Market Daily Titles

In the Mid-Market, the Daily Mail‘s circulation continues to rest at around 2.2 million after adding around 4,500 copies period on period.

Following a rise of around 1.5% period on period, the Daily Express now has a total circulation of just under 730,000.

Popular Daily Titles

Perhaps the most impressive performer in the daily newspaper market in June was the Daily Star, up a massive 18.7% year on year and 3.5% month on month, taking its circulation to more than 870,000 copies, its highest level since August 2005.

Following a slight month on month increase of 0.4%, the Daily Mirror now has a circulation of 1.3 million, although this is a 9.6% drop from June 2008.

A month on month rise of 1.5% by the Sun, takes its total back over the three million mark, around 61,000 below its circulation a year ago.

The Daily Record, meanwhile, fell 1% period on period, to around 347,000 copies – 11% down on its June 2008 circulation.

Sunday Newspaper Market

The Sunday newspaper market picked up this month with period on period increases for most titles with the exception of just three – the Independent on Sunday, Sunday Telegraph and Mail on Sunday.

The overall Sunday market increased by 1.5% period on period, with some Popular titles recording significant rises.

However, the longer-term downward trend continues with the overall Sunday market down 4.6% year on year.

Quality Sunday Titles

The Quality sector had a mixed period, with two titles reporting circulation increases and two reporting losses period on period.

The Independent on Sunday continued to struggle and suffered the highest percentage decline in the overall Sunday market, after losing almost 5,000 copies, a 3% period on period downturn, to 162,000 copies in total.

The Irish-based newspaper, which is rumoured to be up for sale along with its daily sister title The Independent (see INM reports €161.4m loss), also witnessed a significant year on year drop of 22.5%, a real term loss of more than 47,000 copies.

The Sunday Telegraph also dipped this period, down by 0.5% to just under 616,000 copies in total.

However, the Observer and the Sunday Times followed the overall upward trend in June and reported period on period increases.

The Observer increased its circulation by around 4,400 copies, up 1.1% period on period, taking its total to almost 410,000.

The Sunday Times, meanwhile, enjoyed a 1.3% period on period rise, gaining a significant 15,800 copies, which takes its total to above 1.2 million.

Mid-Market Sunday Titles

The Mid-Market sector also had a mixed period. The Mail on Sunday dipped by 0.3% period on period but still maintains a circulation of more than two million copies.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Express‘ circulation rose 0.5% period on period, taking it up to nearly 640,000 copies in total.

Popular Sunday Titles

The Popular titles all enjoyed period on period rises, with the News of the World gaining an impressive 94,000 copies in June, a 3.2% period on period increase.

The red-top’s boost takes it back to over three million copies, the highest circulation figure in the overall Sunday sector.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star Sunday witnessed the largest percentage rise in June, up 7.3% period on period to more than 386,000 copies.

The Daily Star Sunday is also one of only two titles in the overall market to report a year on year circulation increase in this month’s ABC release.

The People and the Sunday Mirror were also up in June, by 0.6% and 1.9% respectively, which takes the People‘s total to 586,000 copies, while the Sunday Mirror maintains a respectable 1.2 million.