Trinity Announces Positive Trading Report, Enhances ic24 Network
Trinity Mirror has reaped increased revenue growth across its national and regional newspapers during the first half of the financial year, and said that the company, which merged last year (see Trinity And Mirror Seal Merger In £2bn Deal), had integrated its assets well . The largest regional publisher in the UK and owner of the Mirror and Sunday Mirror saw revenues rise by up to 7% during the six-month period ended 2 July.
Circulation revenues from the group’s national titles rose by 2.4% compared to the same period last year and ad revenue grew by 5.4%. The Mirror achieved growth of 6.9% while the Sunday Mirror rose 6.1%, and both titles increased their respective market shares.
Regional newspapers were strong across all regions. Ad revenues grew by 7.3%, with particularly strong performances in the Midlands and Liverpool, where the group’s local titles include the Birmingham Evening Mail and the Liverpool Echo. Having ended its fray with Associated Newspapers over Metro franchises (see Metro Success Eats Into DMGT Profits), the group expects to gain from its share of the free dailies in the coming year.
Trinity confirmed today that it will not join its fellow regional publishers in the race to make a bid for Regional Independent Media (see Johnston Press Joins Race For RIM). A spokesperson for the group said that RIM, which includes the Yorkshire Post in its portfolio, was not a “must-buy” for Trinity.
The company’s new media arm is also progressing well: its internet service provider, ic24, had more than 455,000 subscribers by the end of June, of which 383,000 were active; the roll-out of new consumer portals, expected later in the year, will include icShowbiz, icChoice, icSport and icTravel and further regional portals are also expected.
Sporting-life.com recorded over 53m page impressions during June. A report published this week heralded sport as one of the major online revenue earners (see Web Report: Online Sports).
Trinity’s deputy chief executive and chief operating officer, John Allwood, is leaving the company at the end of July. Philip Graf, CEO of the group said in a statement today: “John’s contribution to the success of Trinity Mirror, and in particular the integration of the two businesses, has been very significant.”
Trinity Mirror: 020 7293 3000