Berliner Drives Sales For Guardian And Observer

The Guardian‘s Berliner format is continuing to drive circulation increases, according to the latest ABC figures released today, with the paper adding 4.8% to its sales year on year last month.

The newspaper’s circulation now stands at 394,913, up over 18,000 in real terms on the same point in 2005 following its switch to the reduced size Berliner format in mid-September (see Guardian Hits Newsstands In Berliner Format).

The Guardian‘s Sunday sister title, the Observer, also appeared to benefit from the ‘Berliner effect,’ adding an impressive 21.3% to its circulation year on year, with the paper having made the switch to the new format at the beginning of January (see Observer Makes Transition To Berliner Format).

Also seeing a healthy upturn was the Financial Times, adding 4.6% year on year to drive circulation to 441,840. November saw the paper lose its editor, Andrew Gowers, who handed in his resignation citing “strategic differences” with the title’s management (see FT Editor Steps Down Citing ‘Strategic Differences’), although the FT has been optimistic in recent months, with publishing company Pearson expecting a return to profit this year (see Pearson Optimistic As FT Faces Break Even).

Elsewhere, the Independent saw a modest circulation increase year on year in January, adding 0.5% to total 258,387. Despite the relatively small size of the Independent‘s sales boost, it compares favourably with rivals in the daily newspaper market, with all other sectors seeing declines across the board.

Worst hit was the Daily Express, with the mid market title shedding 10.6% of its circulation year on year. A total circulation of 849,001 sees the paper move further away from the one million mark, while sector rival the Daily Mail sheds 0.8% to total 2.39 million in the same period.

The popular market was similarly downbeat in January, with the Daily Star recording the largest downturn in sales, at 4.8%.

As a whole, the daily newspaper market saw circulations slip by 1.86% year on year in January, although the situation for Sunday titles was much worse. The weekend sector lost 2.1% overall, despite impressive rises by the newly compact Observer and Independent on Sunday (see Independent On Sunday To Make Tabloid Switch).

A full breakdown of the latest ABC figures will be available on NewsLine this afternoon, with detailed analysis for both weekday and weekend titles by market sector.

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