ABC Regional Newspapers: Jul-Dec 2006

The latest ABC figures, for July – December 2006, show that the regional press has suffered quite badly, with the majority of titles recording declining circulation figures.

The West Midlands Express And Star recorded the largest circulation figure, whilst the Liverpool Echo had the second highest.

Of the top ten free regional newspaper groups, only one group managed to rise above the torpor and record an increase, whilst of the top ten paid groups, there were but two which enjoyed rises.

Only two of the top ten paid regional newspaper groups recorded year on year increases in the six months to December 2006, with the Sunday World – All Editions Group and the Lincolnshire Newspapers Group seeing their circulations rise.

Sunday World – All Editions Group remained the group with the highest total circulation figure, at over 278,000, following a year on year increase of 2.2%. The Lincolnshire Newspapers Group also had cause for celebration, with a massive increase year on year of almost 63%, or more than 31,500 in real terms, giving it a circulation of more than 82,000.

The largest declines in the top ten paid regional newspaper groups were suffered by the Cornish Weekly Newspapers Group, which fell by 9.5% year on year, or more than 10,300 copies and the Derry Journal Group, which was down more than 7% year on year, leaving it with a total circulation of around 76,100.

The Kent Messenger Weekly Newspaper Group, which recorded a circulation of almost 148,000, suffered a year on year decline of over 4,000 in real terms, a percentage loss of more than 2.5%. Also recording a decline was the Surrey advertiser All Papers Group, down by over 5.5% year on year.

Today’s ABC regional newspaper figures saw the West Midlands Express & Star – All Editions remain in the top spot with a circulation total of more than 140,000, despite a 5.3% fall year on year.

The Manchester Evening News & The Pink recorded a fall in circulation of more than 38,000 copies year on year for the period July to December 2006, a percentage decline of 28.5%.

A significant downturn was experienced by the Birmingham Mail, which slid by around 10,000 issues year on year for the period. The paper’s circulation now rests at around 75,000.

The Liverpool Echo dropped by just shy of 10,000 copies year on year, leaving its total figure to stand at around 114,000. The Belfast Telegraph also shed copies year on year, more than 6,000, to leave its total circulation sitting at 90,285.

The only title of the top ten not to record a loss was the Dublin Evening Herald, which rose marginally, adding just 250 copies year on year, to leave its total at 85,756.

The Aberdeen Press & Journal has recorded a total of around 82,500, despite a 2.4% dip, whilst the Newcastle Evening Chronicle has seen a final figure of just over 81,000, down around 6,000 editions year on year.

The Dundee Courier & Advertiser and the Shropshire Star – All Editions, also experienced a year on year circulation fall, of around 2,500 and 3,500 copies respectively.

Northcliffe Newspapers group felt a large actual year on year loss in the free newspaper sector according to the latest ABC figures for July to December 2006.

The company’s titles were down by more than 261,000 year on year, a decline of over 10%. However, it remained the free newspaper group with the largest total circulation, of over 2.3 million. Trinity Mirror Southern was not too far behind though, with a total figure of more than 2.2 million, although it too felt a decline year on year, of nearly 127,000.

LSN Media was the only free regional newspaper group out of the top ten largest free groups to record a year on year increase, of almost 15%, which equates to more than 53,000 copies in real terms.

The Observer Standard Newspapers Ltd Group felt a large percentage decline, of just under 20% year on year, leaving it with a total circulation of around 409,600.

Other free groups to feel declines were the KM Extra group, down more than 6% year on year, and the Yellow Advertiser Series, down by around 4.5% year on year.

ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk