ABC Regional Newspapers: Jul-Dec 2005

Today sees the Audit Bureau of Circulations release data for the nation’s regional newspapers covering the period from July to December 2005.

The new figures reveal mixed results for the UK’s regional press, with the majority of paid for newspaper groups seeing a decline overall, with only one of the top ten exhibiting any growth in sales.

There were similar declines amongst the nation’s top ten free newspaper groups, although a handful of companies bucked the trend, seeing some circulation growth in the last six months of 2005.

The paid newspaper market looked depressed at the end of last year, with only the Sunday World – All Editions Group managing to boost sales amongst the top ten publishers.

The company recorded a 1.5% increase year on year, adding 3,924 copies in real terms to total 272,304. The addition keeps the publishing group at the top of the paid for regional table, with declines by its nearest rivals serving to further widen its lead.

The heaviest declines were felt by Archant North London, down 7.7% year on year in the six months to December, and the Chester Chronicle Group, down 6.1% in the same period. The two companies now command collective sales of 143,944 and 83,669.

The smallest declines in the top ten paid for groups were made by the Celtic Newspapers Group and the Rochdale Observer Group, recording dips of 1.4% each to 97,412 and 86,799.

The nation’s top ten paid for regional newspaper titles showed a similar pattern of decline in the final six months of 2005, with all but two titles recording a downturn in sales year on year.

Worst hit was the Birmingham Mail, suffering an 11.5% slump in circulation, pushing its total to 85,074, more than 11,000 down on the same period in 2004.

Belfast Sunday Life also looked glum, shedding 6.2% from its circulation in the same period to see sales total 77,688 in the final six months of the year.

There were glimmers of hope in the paid for sector, however, with Sunday World – Republic of Ireland Edition recording a modest 0.4% increase, while fellow Irish title the Belfast Telegraph saw a 2% rise on the previous year.

The two papers now command sales of 206,142 and 96,435 respectively, with Sunday World reinforcing its position at the top of the table.

Britain’s free regional newspaper groups looked more optimistic in the second half of 2005, and saw several publishers boosting sales, despite circulation decreases by their competitors.

KM Extra Group (Kent) saw the largest rise in sales, adding an impressive 13.2% year on year to command a total circulation of 671,257.

Observer Standard Newspapers Limited also saw a respectable rise, adding 7% in the same period to total 534,916.

The top of the table continued to be dominated by Northcliffe Newspapers and Trinity Mirror Southern, however, despite losses of 1.6% and 1.9% translating to sales dips of more than 40,000 in real terms.

Northcliffe’s total circulation now stands at just under 2.6 million, while rival Trinity stands at just over 2.4 million.

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