The Daily Mail and General Trust has reported a solid financial performance for the last quarter of 2007, with a 4% rise in ad revenues at its Associated Newspapers division.
According to its interim management statement today, the group’s revenues for the quarter were up 2% on last year.
At its national newspapers division, Associated total revenues climbed 2% after 4% growth in ad revenues. This included those of Teletext and Associated Northcliffe Digital, and flat circulation revenues.
Print advertising revenues rose 4%, with display up by 5% and classified down 9%; these trends broadly continued into last month.
In contrast, at its regional newspapers division, Northcliffe, which it bought from Trinity Mirror last year (see DMGT Announces 8% Rise In Ad Revenues), total revenues were virtually unchanged and ad revenues were 1% lower than the same period last year. There was a 2% drop in circulation revenues, but growth in revenues at Northcliffe’s business in continental Europe.
Automotive advertising was down 12%, leisure was down 5% and property revenues down 1%, but recruitment was up 3% and retail was up 2%.
January has seen weaker revenues again, particularly in property advertising, which has been hit by talk of a housing slowdown.
DMGT’s business to business divisions again contributed strongly to growth; DMG Information’s revenues were up 18%.
Viscount Rothermere, chairman of DMGT, said: “Most of our businesses continue to perform well, and above our expectations, despite the troubles in the financial and property markets.”
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