ABC Regional Newspapers: Jan-Jun 2005
The ABC regional newspaper figures for the six months to June 2005 revealed mixed results for the nations top ten paid for regional newspaper groups.
The Surrey Advertisers – All Papers Group suffered the largest decline, losing 5.8% of its circulation year on year, taking its circulation down to 99,601.
The Sunday World – All Editions Group saw the second largest dip in circulation, dropping by 5.5%, despite this however, the group managed to retain its position as market leader, commanding a circulation total of 273,667.
Kent Messenger Weekly Newspaper Group claimed the top spot in terms of growth, rising by 8.6% year on year reaching a circulation total of 166,995.
Elsewhere, Celtic Newspapers pushed its circulation up by 1.8%, with Rochdale Observer Group following suit with a year on year increase of 1.1%.
Top 10 Paid Regional Newspaper Groups By Circulation | ||||
Title | Jan 04-Jun04 | Jan05-Jun05 | Actual Change | % Change |
Sunday World – All Editions Group | 268,328 | 273,667 | -16,168 | -5.5 |
West Midlands Express & Star Group | 174,989 | 169,527 | -5,462 | -3.1 |
Kent Messenger Weekly Newspaper Group | 153,834 | 166,995 | 13,161 | 8.6 |
Central Counties Newspapers Group | 118,781 | 119,127 | 346 | 0.3 |
Cornish Weekly Newspapers Group | 113,950 | 113,465 | -485 | -0.4 |
Essex County Newspaper Group | 107,414 | 107,565 | 151 | 0.1 |
Surrey Advertiser All Papers Group | 105,725 | 99,601 | -6,124 | -5.8 |
Celtic Newspapers Group | 96,132 | 97,832 | 1,700 | 1.8 |
Chester Chronicle Group | 97,768 | 94,286 | -3,482 | -3.6 |
Rochdale Observer Group (Paids) | 86,286 | 87,188 | 902 | 1.1 |
Source: ABC |
The top ten paid for regional newspapers suffered declines across the board, with all titles reporting drops in their circulation’s for the six months to June 2005.
The Sunday World – Republic of Ireland Edition saw the largest drop, shedding 6.9% year on year of its circulation to command a total of 210,050. Despite this however, the publication retained its position as market leader.
The Birmingham Evening Mail also suffered a large loss, dropping by 6.4% year on year to reach a circulation of 108,651.
The downwards trend was echoed throughout all the top ten regional newspapers titles, with the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Sunday Sun declining by 4.6% year on year and the Belfast Sunday Life down by 3.4% compared to the same period last year.
The Belfast Telegraph saw the smallest percent decrease, dipping by 2.5% to command a circulation total of 108,651.
Elsewhere the Manchester Evening News and Glasgow Evening Times also lost circulation, shedding 2.6% year on year and 3% respectively.
Top 10 Paid Regional Newspaper Titles By Circulation | ||||
Title | Jan 04-Jun 04 | Jan 05-Jun 05 | Actual Change | % Change |
Sunday World – Republic Of Ireland Edition | 225,572 | 210,050 | -15,522 | -6.9 |
Manchester Evening News (Mon-Fri) | 162,421 | 158,143 | -4,278 | -2.6 |
Liverpool Echo (Mon-Fri) | 147,079 | 142,837 | -4,242 | -2.9 |
Birmingham Evening Mail (Mon-Fri) | 121,717 | 113,973 | -7,744 | -6.4 |
Belfast Telegraph (Mon – Fri) | 111,407 | 108,651 | -2,756 | -2.5 |
Leicester Mercury | 102,828 | 99,258 | -3,570 | -3.5 |
Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Mon-Fri) | 99,531 | 96,831 | -2,700 | -2.7 |
Glasgow – Evening Times (Mon-Fri) | 98,760 | 95,761 | -2,999 | -3.0 |
Belfast Sunday Life | 96,093 | 92,843 | -3,250 | -3.4 |
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Sunday Sun | 92,857 | 88,583 | -4,274 | -4.6 |
Source: ABC |
The nation’s top ten free regional newspaper groups in the six months till June saw the KM Extra Group (Kent) notch up a healthy 17.7% year on year, increasing its circulation to 698,010 and giving it the largest rise out of the titles.
Northcliffe Newspapers Group retained its position as market leader, commanding a circulation total of 2,611,829, despite suffering slight a dip of 0.2% year on year.
Northcliffes’s biggest rival, Trinity Mirror Southern also saw a decline, albeit by just 0.4% year on year, taking its circulation total down to 2,450,353.
Elsewhere, the Observer Standard Newspapers enjoyed a rise of 9.1% year on year, as did Midland News Association Group, up 3.5% year on year and the Chronicle Newspaper Group at 4.4%.
The Yellow Advertiser Series and Adscene did not fair so well, losing 2.8% year on year and 1.1% respectively.
Top 10 Free Regional Newspaper Groups By Circulation | ||||
Title | Jan 04 – Jun 04 | Jan 05 – Jun 05 | Actual Change | % Change |
Northcliffe Newspapers Group | 2,616,002 | 2,611,829 | -4,173 | -0.2 |
Trinity Mirror Southern | 2,460,707 | 2,450,353 | -10,354 | -0.4 |
KM Extra Group (Kent) | 593,067 | 698,010 | 104,943 | 17.7 |
Midland News Association Group | 621,233 | 642,856 | 21,623 | 3.5 |
Observer Standard Newspapers Ltd Group | 500,032 | 545,466 | 45,434 | 9.1 |
Chronicle Newspapers Group | 501,623 | 523,769 | 22,146 | 4.4 |
Yellow Advertiser Series | 483,654 | 470,015 | -13,639 | -2.8 |
LSN Media | 348,916 | 361,729 | 12,813 | 3.7 |
Adscene Group | 364,874 | 360,756 | -4,118 | -1.1 |
Newsquest (Midlands South) | 359,570 | 354,005 | -5,565 | -1.5 |
Source: ABC |
ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk