ABC Newspaper Circulation H2 2013

Szero

Time for a new thread for tomorrows ABC newspaper circulation numbers for H2 2013.

Here is where we stand ...

Sunday Business Post:
H2 2010: 45,696
H2 2011: 43,141
H2 2012: 39,416
H2 2013:

Examiner:
H2 2010: 46,011
H2 2011: 42,083
H2 2012: 39,555
H2 2013:

Evening Echo:
H2 2010: 21,301
H2 2011: 18.632
H2 2012: 16,560
H2 2013:

Sunday Indepedent:
H2 2010: 254,313
H2 2011: 250,648
H2 2012: 237,185
H2 2013:

Sunday World:
H2 2010: 250.667
H2 2011: 251,344
H2 2012: 217,141
H2 2013:

Irish Independent:
H2 2010: 138,510
H2 2011: 131,161
H2 2012: 123,981
H2 2013:

Herald:
H2 2010: 64,435
H2 2011: 62,435
H2 2012: 58,826
H2 2013:

Irish Times:
H2 2010: 102,542
H2 2011: 96,150
H2 2012: 88,356
H2 2013:

Mr Pseudonym

I'm interested in the Sunday Times, because its decline began slightly later than the other quality Sundays: the Sunday Independent peaked in '08, but the Times only began its fall-off in '11, having increased circulation slightly on the year before (note: that '11 figure was a reduction on '08).


Sunday Times:
H2 2010: 106,909
H2 2011: 109,539
H2 2012: 100,720
H2 2013: 92,643




Source: ilevel.ie

Szero

Bad news all round especially for the SBP, Evening Echo and Irish Times.

Irish Independent:
H2 2010: 138,510
H2 2011: 131,161
H2 2012: 123,981
H2 2013: 117,361

Irish Times:
H2 2010: 102,542
H2 2011: 96,150
H2 2012: 88,356
H2 2013: 82,059

Examiner:
H2 2010: 46,011
H2 2011: 42,083
H2 2012: 39,555
H2 2013: 37,009

Sunday Indepedent:
H2 2010: 254,313
H2 2011: 250,648
H2 2012: 237,185
H2 2013: 229,382

Sunday World:
H2 2010: 250.667
H2 2011: 251,344
H2 2012: 217,141
H2 2013: 208,281

Sunday Business Post:
H2 2010: 45,696
H2 2011: 43,141
H2 2012: 39,416
H2 2013: 34,322

Evening Echo:
H2 2010: 21,301
H2 2011: 18.632
H2 2012: 16,560
H2 2013: 14,157

Herald:
H2 2010: 64,435
H2 2011: 62,435
H2 2012: 58,826
H2 2013: 56,119

IRE60

All - usual outpourings:

Sunday's :http://goo.gl/Mv35o9
Morning's http://goo.gl/VYoJ3w

JTMan

Good articles Conor.

The silence from the old media is telling. Not a single article, in the old media, thus far, on todays ABC stats that point towards the ongoing terminal decline of newspapers.

IRE60

They love bitching about each other, but when they are in the crap collectively they tend to stay quiet.

Mr Pseudonym

Great work, IRE60.

Yes, the absence of comment in the national papers is a little strange. But, I couldn't find reference to the survey anywhere else, either. Perhaps, as the response to this thread may indicate, people don't care. Also the regular reporting by the Irish Media of Radio listenership surveys is abnormal.

I have nothing insightful to add, but I'll make a few points in the hope of starting discussion:

Alas, the SBP is surely doomed. Despite being heavily in the news ("No such thing as bad publicity") and a redesign, it must be getting close to unsustainability. Already, the likes of Pat Leahy and Ian Kehoe have upwards of four articles each week, and it's highly unusual for the editor to pen a piece, as Cliff Taylor does. According to the Phoenix, Leahy was approached by INM, but declined the offer. If he were to leave, I would likely stop buying the paper.

As I said above, the Sunday Times managed to delay its decline versus the other quality Sundays by three years, but it looks to have joined the party and be making up for the lost time.

The Sindo relies on quantity rather than quality: it probably has more columnists than the Irish Times, and while there are few that I actively look forward to reading each week, invariably there will have been one or two opinion pieces that I found enjoyable.

The Irish Times needs to do something! Anything! It has a new digital edition (sample) and is making some multimedia efforts, and I wonder might not Hugh Linehan (Digital Development Editor) be in-line for the top job were the decline to continue. It currently charges a massive e200 for a yearly online subscription, and doesn't offer a weekly one. There is no sensible reason to not offer a one-week trial. There are still areas it could substantially reduce costs: it has correspondents in Washington, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, London, Rome, and the Middle East (as well as a roaming correspondent (Mary Fitzgerald) and the (I think) freelance Clifford Coonan in East Asia) - substantially reducing its foreign coverage would save a chunk.

Mr Pseudonym

How the papers reported the results:


Irish Examiner: ‘Irish Examiner’ gains 4,000 readers

The newspaper’s readership increased to 215,000, gaining 4,000 readers in just six months.

Irish Examiner editor Tim Vaughan described the results as very positive and encouraging at a difficult time for the industry.

“These figures prove that no matter what some may say, there is a desire and demand for trusted, quality journalism that informs, challenges, and entertains,” he said.

Frank Cullen, co-ordinating director of National Newspapers of Ireland, was encouraged by the move.

“It is very positive, but not surprising, to see that online readership is growing at such a healthy pace. Our members have invested heavily in digital media and we believe that readership will continue to grow well in this area,” he said.

Irish Independent: Irish Independent: We're the No1 newspaper

Ireland's biggest quality daily soars ahead

The Irish Independent remains Ireland's biggest selling quality daily newspaper, and increasing numbers of readers are turning to the newspaper in print and online, new figures show.

The latest ABC audit of newspaper sales show our share of the quality newspaper market is now close to 50pc, rising 0.4pc to 49.6pc.

The Irish Independent now reaches 52,000 more readers than its two closest rivals combined.

Thanks to you, our loyal readers, the Irish Independent's blend of cutting edge news, comment, sport and business remains uniquely popular with readers from all background and age groups -- and in all parts of the country.

"It is the Irish Independent's commitment to helping our readers stay informed with the very best quality journalism that keeps us as Ireland's number one daily title," said Irish Independent Editor Claire Grady.

"We will continue that commitment to provide the kind of news and incisive comment our discerning readers deserve."

All of Independent News and Media's titles have performed strongly this year. The 'Sunday Independent' had an average circulation of 229,382, while 'The Herald' had a circulation of 56,119.

Irish Times: Newspaper sales down across the daily and Sunday markets

Print circulation falls more than 6 per cent year-on-year, ABC figures show

Newspapers sales in Ireland fell in the second half of 2013, with the market for both daily and Sunday titles shrinking by more than 6 per cent, according to figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

The print circulation of almost all the main titles retreated, continuing a trend that dates back to 2007, the ABC report shows.

Sales of The Irish Times fell 7.1 per cent in July-December 2013 compared with the same period in 2012. Print circulation stands at 82,059, a drop of 6,297 copies.

The article goes on to give, without comment, the figures for several other papers.


I commend the IT for the balanced a neutral way in which it reported. The Indo, on the other hand, is just a parody of itself.

IRE60

Whats laughable is the Indo 'gushing' about their new readership, and the fact that they have 130,000 readers of their online offering every day - now I have serious issues with that.

Last year they issued their eABC cert for independent.ie in which it had 354,000 uniques per day.

Which is it? The uniques would be much the same as the surveyed online readers.

Its amazing how they can stand over two completely different figures for the same platform.

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

Whats laughable is the Indo 'gushing' about their new readership, and the fact that they have 130,000 readers of their online offering every day - now I have serious issues with that.

Last year they issued their eABC cert for independent.ie in which it had 354,000 uniques per day.

Which is it? The uniques would be much the same as the surveyed online readers.

Its amazing how they can stand over two completely different figures for the same platform.

I don't suppose there are any numbers on the SBP's digital edition, are there?

JTMan

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I don't suppose there are any numbers on the SBP's digital edition, are there?

The SBP have aprox. 1,400 digital sales according to the SBP themselves. Pathetic really.

Paul Cooke's spin on the SBP ABC numbers is almost as funny as the Indo spin. He seems to think that the new masterhead is going to reverse the terminal sales decline. :rolleyes:

IRE60

The jnrs says they have 14,000 online readers............!

JTMan

IRE60 wrote: »

The jnrs says they have 14,000 online readers............!

Even if the farcical JNRS is correct, which is a big if, 14,000 freeloaders is not enough to generate advertising income to pay journalist salaries.

The SBP have a loss making website, loss making digital product and a newspaper in terminal decline.

The next few months / years will reveal how deep Paul Cooke's pockets are.

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

The jnrs says they have 14,000 online readers............!

Thanks! Do I sense scepticism?

doublej

Here's a stat from the latest Island of Ireland ABC

The Sunday World has dropped 8,293 sales in H2 2013 against H2 2012.

Southern edition. 2012 152,657;
Northern edition. 2012. 54,938.

2013 South 144,727 (7,930)
2013 North. 54,575 (363)

The vast majority of losses were for the South edition.The RRP was €2.35/£1.30 but the January edition saw a 10 cent increase.

The tabloid market is priced as follows

Sun Sunday. €1.00
Star Sunday. €1.00
Sunday Mirror. €1.50
People €1.50
Sunday World. €2.45.

IRE60

You can tell a lot about your choice of publication: SPB or ST didn't cover the ABC numbers!

el pasco

Wonder which paper will be next to fold??
And when?

JTMan

el pasco wrote: »

Wonder which paper will be next to fold??
And when?

My two cents ...

High risk:

• Landmark Media Investment publications. Examiner, Evening Echo etc. The future of LM depends on how long AIB will support the declining newspaper and radio group.
• SBP. The future of the SBP depends on how much losses Paul Cooke is willing to endure.
• Irish Daily Star, Sunday World and other tabloids. Rapidly declining circulation and less support for the red tops from the rich media owners.
• UK publications in Ireland. More UK publications are bound to follow the UK Independent lead and cut the cord on tiny RoI circulation that does not justify the fixed costs involved.

Medium risk:
Irish Times. The decline in circulation will eventually bring into question to ongoing viability of the publication.

Low risk:
Indo. Too many rich people circulating / owning this publication. DOB is not going to let this go to the wall anytime soon.

Szero

el pasco wrote: »

Wonder which paper will be next to fold??
And when?

We are still probably 2-5 years away from bankruptcy, exits and mass liquidations.

What's next ...

• I would think that News UK might pull the plug on the Times in Ireland.
• The Telegraph and Express could pull Irish distribution.
• Examiner, even under new owners, could easily go to the wall.
• INM pull the plug on the Belfast Telegraph and / or their tabloids.
• The new owners of the SBP wake up smell the coffee and realise that their niche declining publication has no future.

Mr Pseudonym

Fungus wrote: »

High risk:

• SBP. The future of the SBP depends on how much losses Paul Cooke is willing to endure.

Szero wrote: »

The new owners of the SBP wake up smell the coffee and realise that their niche declining publication has no future.

I would recategorise the SBP as "Very-high risk".

As much as it pains me to say it, I can see no future for the SBP in anything resembling its current guise. The SBP doesn't quite have a niche. Though it probably covers business and markets to a greater extent than the IT's Business supplement (and certainly more than the IT's main section), it is not equivalent to the FT. Therefore, though it attracts professional readers, there's nothing especailly unique about what it produces. Think about this: without Taylor and Leahy, it'd be doomed!

It's easy to forget that while the daily-circulation figures are similar for the SBP and Examiner, the latter has a weekly-circulation of 200k+. Also, its dominance in the South is attractive to advertisers. The Examiner has a much healthier online presence; the SBP, as demonstrated above, is almost as inept as the Phoenix. In another post I said that I thought that "the SBP doesn't have a large enough journalistic staff to expand on what it produces on Sundays. As a weekly paper with no daily sister-publication, and which provides semi-in-depth analysis, it should think of itself as a magazine, and seek to base its online presence on that premise. The Economist and the Spectator in the UK have very active blogs which keep their sites ticking-over alongside their weekly-updated content." The extent to which journalists write multiple pieces is becoming absurd and unsustainable. It's unlikely that any more copy could be forced out of them without compromising quality. Whether this could in any way sustain the paper assumes that there would be a demand for what was indicated above - the weekly content supported by blogs and multimedia - which there doesn't seem to be.

I would think that News UK might pull the plug on the Times in Ireland.

Obviously, it would likely reduce the Irish editorial staff before considering that move. As it is, 90k copies with a skeleton-staff is pretty good.

doublej

Szero wrote: »

We are still probably 2-5 years away from bankruptcy, exits and mass liquidations.

What's next ...

• I would think that News UK might pull the plug on the Times in Ireland.
• The Telegraph and Express could pull Irish distribution.
• Examiner, even under new owners, could easily go to the wall.
• INM pull the plug on the Belfast Telegraph and / or their tabloids.
• The new owners of the SBP wake up smell the coffee and realise that their niche declining publication has no future.

Do you mean The Sunday Times or The Times when you suggest that News UK may pull the plug in Ireland?

Szero

doublej wrote: »

Do you mean The Sunday Times or The Times when you suggest that News UK may pull the plug in Ireland?

The Sunday Times, that is where the cost is.

Can anyone put a number on their 'skeleton staff' levels?

JTMan

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I would recategorise the SBP as "Very-high risk".

As much as it pains me to say it, I can see no future for the SBP in anything resembling its current guise. The SBP doesn't quite have a niche. Though it probably covers business and markets to a greater extent than the IT's Business supplement (and certainly more than the IT's main section), it is not equivalent to the FT. Therefore, though it attracts professional readers, there's nothing especailly unique about what it produces. Think about this: without Taylor and Leahy, it'd be doomed!

It's easy to forget that while the daily-circulation figures are similar for the SBP and Examiner, the latter has a weekly-circulation of 200k+. Also, its dominance in the South is attractive to advertisers. The Examiner has a much healthier online presence; the SBP, as demonstrated above, is almost as inept as the Phoenix. In another post I said that I thought that "the SBP doesn't have a large enough journalistic staff to expand on what it produces on Sundays. As a weekly paper with no daily sister-publication, and which provides semi-in-depth analysis, it should think of itself as a magazine, and seek to base its online presence on that premise. The Economist and the Spectator in the UK have very active blogs which keep their sites ticking-over alongside their weekly-updated content." The extent to which journalists write multiple pieces is becoming absurd and unsustainable. It's unlikely that any more copy could be forced out of them without compromising quality. Whether this could in any way sustain the paper assumes that there would be a demand for what was indicated above - the weekly content supported by blogs and multimedia - which there doesn't seem to be.

Understanding the puppet masters are key to understanding the future of these publications. Paul Cooke has deep pockets and may be more willing to sustain losses than AIB are willing to sustain losses at Landmark Media Investments.

Mr Pseudonym

Fungus wrote: »

Understanding the puppet masters are key to understanding the future of these publications. Paul Cooke has deep pockets and may be more willing to sustain losses than AIB are willing to sustain losses at Landmark Media Investments.

I'm sure I saw a figure for the staff somewhere. But I now can't find it. I guess there are around thirty (plus a handful of columnists). The main-section is actually quite light. Most of the weight of the paper is accounted for by content from the London edition.

doublej

Re Sunday Times: 94k RoI of 847k total worldwide circulation is a more than healthy 12%. What do you think this would fall to if there was no Irish based content.

Onthe3rdDay

doublej wrote: »

Re Sunday Times: 94k RoI of 847k total worldwide circulation is a more than healthy 12%. What do you think this would fall to if there was no Irish based content.

That 12% probably saves the Irish edition for a good while yet. If there was no Irish content at all it would probably still get a lot of readers here. Would descend gently down to 50k or so over 2 or 3 years. That's assuming the seven day tv guide would continue to give RTE/TV3 listings.

Onthe3rdDay

Szero wrote: »

Examiner:
H2 2010: 46,011
H2 2011: 42,083
H2 2012: 39,555
H2 2013: 37,009

I remember saying to someone back in the 90's that if you counted the amount of death notices in the Irish Press you could roughly work out how much the circulation would drop over the year. (roughly 2 deaths for every sale lost) The Examiners figures are starting to look very similar. However the last 12 months may have been a little healthier in the Cork Area...

Mr Pseudonym

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

That 12% probably saves the Irish edition for a good while yet. If there was no Irish content at all it would probably still get a lot of readers here. Would descend gently down to 50k or so over 2 or 3 years. That's assuming the seven day tv guide would continue to give RTE/TV3 listings.

I wonder are you not being rather optimistic: the Sunday Telegraph and Observer sell a combined 10k each week. Ofc, the ST is the dominant Sunday in the UK market, and it would therefore not be unexpected were it to outsell its principal competitors by a factor of two or three, in this market. But, 50k?! Some would still buy out of habit, but without the Irish news, comment, and sport, I think its circulation would plummet.

Onthe3rdDay

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I wonder are you not being rather optimistic: the Sunday Telegraph and Observer sell a combined 10k each week. Ofc, the ST is the dominant Sunday in the UK market, and it would therefore not be unexpected were it to outsell its principal competitors by a factor of two or three, in this market. But, 50k?! Some would still buy out of habit, but without the Irish news, comment, and sport, I think its circulation would plummet.

You could be correct but I reckon people would continue to buy it out of habit that has been developed over decades. No such habit has ever been developed for the Sunday Telegraph or Observer. Sales would decline and of course dip under the 50k mark as we went past year 3, 4 and 5.

Anyway I doubt if all Irish Content would be dropped. There would probably be a few pages of Irish News in the main paper and a page or two of Irish Sport. Continue the Irish listing in the Culture with a Irish TV review and Irish TV listings and it can continue to pretend to be an Irish edition with 3 or 4 working on it.

A bit like the Mirror in the 80's when there was one page (usually page 7) that had Irish Stories that seemed to be written by one person.

We can't underestimate the importance of Irish sales to the likes of The Sunday Times and some of the English Tabloids. They only started the editions because they were an easy way to boost their sales figures.

However, they'll be dropped like a hot potato as soon as they outlive their usefulness.

doublej

Based on ABC Jan 2014

Uk sales Observer is 225,474 RoI =5,341 (2.37%)
S.Telegraph 429,285 =2,589 (0.60%)
Star 310,063 =21,483 (6.93%)
Sun sunday 1,800,830 =54,740 (3.04%)
S.Mirror 948,759 =37301 (3.93%)
People 374,820 =14,899 (3.97%)
Sunday Express 430,601 =3,375 (0.78%)
Mail on Sunday 1,586,979 =93,447 (5.89%)
Sunday Times 817,642 = 93,993 (11.50%)

Total sundays# (including those titles not circulating in RoI)

7,501,998 of which 328,611 are sold in RoI (4.38%).

When Independent on Sunday was sold in RoI( up to June 2012),it sold 1,207 copies.
The circulation in June '12 was 122,588;RoI sales were 0.98%.
Perversely,of these 122,588 copies,55,169 were multiple (Bulk) sales, deriving no income from sales;these continue,yet the sales channel in RoI was not considered sufficient to maintain.

Onthe3rdDay

doublej wrote: »

Based on ABC Jan 2014

Uk sales Observer is 225,474 RoI =5,341 (2.37%)
S.Telegraph 429,285 =2,589 (0.60%)
Star 310,063 =21,483 (6.93%)
Sun sunday 1,800,830 =54,740 (3.04%)
S.Mirror 948,759 =37301 (3.93%)
People 374,820 =14,899 (3.97%)
Sunday Express 430,601 =3,375 (0.78%)
Mail on Sunday 1,586,979 =93,447 (5.89%)
Sunday Times 817,642 = 93,993 (11.50%)

Total sundays# (including those titles not circulating in RoI)

7,501,998 of which 328,611 are sold in RoI (4.38%).

When Independent on Sunday was sold in RoI( up to June 2012),it sold 1,207 copies.
The circulation in June '12 was 122,588;RoI sales were 0.98%.
Perversely,of these 122,588 copies,55,169 were multiple (Bulk) sales, deriving no income from sales;these continue,yet the sales channel in RoI was not considered sufficient to maintain.

I haven't bought or read the People in years (appears most in Ireland share my taste) I'm assuming that the Irish Sunday Mirror is a 7 day operation. What about the Sunday People? does it have a lot of Irish content now? Of all of them that looks like the one that would be dropped first.

The Star on Sunday is of interest as it replaced the Irish version 3 years ago. It's Circulation was about 50,000 when it closed but the English version with a smattering of Irish content still manages 21, 483. Again it's not something I read on a Sunday and am open to correction on how much actual Irish content is in it.

The distribution of the Independent across the Island made no financial sense for the small figures they were selling. The one's they give out free actually made more for them because they could charge advertisers more.

IRE60

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

Again it's not something I read on a Sunday and am open to correction on how much actual Irish content is in it.

There'll be a shamrock added to the masthead on the 17th of next month and probably a tri-colour on the day we play Germany in the Euros.

But it's true, some papers change nothing and ship here: FT, Times, Observer, Guardian etc. Its an internal matter as to how much it costs and the benefits to each publication. But, its perfectly acceptable considering many of the Irish publications changes nothing shipping to outside jurisdictions.

Mr Pseudonym

Just saw in this article by Laura Slattery in the Irish Times that the Farmer's Journal increased its circulation in the latest survey to 70,496 - SEVENTY-THOUSAND FOUR-HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX (5% up on 2006)! That's huge!! And, apparently, those are all cover-price sales (or, at least, none is a bulk sale). In the article, the commercial director of the magazine is quoted as saying that it is a decision-making tool in the same way that the Financial Times is for bankers. Even still, with a circulation that large, every farmer in the country must purchase it! Which means that advertisers must love it! The Phoenix had a 2012 circulation of 14k (as an aside, has anyone got a more recent figure?) and Village's can be assumed to be even less.

Onthe3rdDay

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Just saw in this article by Laura Slattery in the Irish Times that the Farmer's Journal increased its circulation in the latest survey to 70,496 - SEVENTY-THOUSAND FOUR-HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX (5% up on 2006)! That's huge!! And, apparently, those are all cover-price sales (or, at least, none is a bulk sale). In the article, the commercial director of the magazine is quoted as saying that it is a decision-making tool in the same way that the Financial Times is for bankers. Even still, with a circulation that large, every farmer in the country must purchase it! Which means that advertisers must love it! The Phoenix had a 2012 circulation of 14k (as an aside, has anyone got a more recent figure?) and Village's can be assumed to be even less.

It's Print circulation is also protected by the state of Broadband in rural Ireland at the moment. It's easier to go down to the shop and buy a copy. However, having said that, it's a very well packaged product. The Lifestyle Magazine that comes with it is very popular as well.

IRE60

70,496 - Ewe have to be kidding

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

70,496 - Ewe have to be kidding

Absolutely diabolical - you make me sh-udder

Have you any recent circulation figures for the Phoenix?

IRE60

No, they are still registered as a publication with the ABC, but haven't posted a Cert since the one ending Dec 2012 (14k). So one would assume that one was due a few weeks back?

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

No, they are still registered as a publication with the ABC, but haven't posted a Cert since the one ending Dec 2012 (14k). So one would assume that one was due a few weeks back?

Thanks. Their '11 circulation was 15.8k, so the 1.8k reduction was actually quite large, as a percentage. If they haven't announced it yet, it's certainly not good news!

doublej

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

It's Print circulation is also protected by the state of Broadband in rural Ireland at the moment. It's easier to go down to the shop and buy a copy. However, having said that, it's a very well packaged product. The Lifestyle Magazine that comes with it is very popular as well.

There's something amiss with the way IFJ collate their sales.
In 2009 the H1 cert had to be amended as there were 2766 copies placed in the Single Subs category that were subsequently recategorised as Bulk.
The Bulks were then noted in H2 2009 as 2334 and each period in 2010 and 2011.they were also noted in H1 of 2012.
In addition to Bulks, there were copies provided through Subscription and also Free copies declared in the Controlled Free category.these have been absent since H2 2012.
The most recent Cert has 70496 copies, all in the sales category, 66627 at Basic Cover Price and 3869 at less than BCP.
There are NO subscriptions, no bulks and no CFC's.
2009 H1 67089sales
617 subs
3108 bulk
270 CFC
Total 71084

H2. 66827 sales
591 subs
2334 bulk
259 CFC
Total 70011

2010. H1. 65488 sales
595 subs
3754 bulk
227 CFC
Total 70064

H2. 66537 sales
581 subs
3060 bulk
227 CFC
Total. 70405

2011 H1. 66023 sales
627 subs
4183 bulk
189 CFC
Total. 71022

H2. 68152 sales
572 subs
3144 bulk
178 CFC
Total. 72046

2012. H1. 66259 sales
596 subs
4565 bulk
196 CFC
Total. 71616

H2. 66386 sales+3610 sales
115 bulk
Total. 70111

2013. H1. 66181+4580 sales
92 bulk
Total. 70853

H2. 66627+3869 sales
Total 70496.

As the article in the Times makes reference to subscriptions, as does their website, is it not peculiar that the Cert does not note any at all, which would at very least mean a loss of the 600 odd subscribers that the IFJ had on their books for many years; is it conceivable that they all discontinued en masse and elected to purchase at BCP or lower?
I can't accept that the total circulation figures can have remained static since H2 2012 if the 4000 odd bulks were actually removed and replaced by the same number of paying consumers.
Similarly, the Important people that had written to IFJ for a free copy of the weekly paper; are we to understand that IFJ have told them all to go away and buy the paper?
The end totals are no doubt correct , but how they are arrived at is very questionable.
The IFJ have spun this tale that they don't do bulks and the Times correspondent has accepted it without checking the facts; doesn't everyone know how far you can trust a publisher?

Mr Pseudonym

It certainly looks suspicious. Online subscribers are entitled to a paper copy. Therefore, perhaps the IFJ argues that all online-subs are actually print-subs who also have access to online edition.

doublej

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

It certainly looks suspicious. Online subscribers are entitled to a paper copy. Therefore, perhaps the IFJ argues that all online-subs are actually print-subs who also have access to online edition.

Of the 3 online subscription packages, the basic one is online only. The other 2 are online +paper and online + paper mailed to subscribers address. There are NO subscribers on the Cert.

IRE60

Marginally wayword, but the FT’s financials were released today. Above we alluded to unique content and the FT have it in spades – here’s media weeks take on it:

“The FT’s total paid circulation grew 8% year on year to 652,000 across print and online, the highest paying readership in its 126-year history. FT.com digital subscriptions grew 31% to 415,000, offsetting nearly 20% falls in its print circulation, now 234,193 (of which 72,251 in the UK). Total revenues from copy sales and subscriptions were $98 million in 2013, with digital subscribers now representing almost two-thirds of the FT’s total paying audience. The group’s corporate users increased nearly 60% to more than 260,000 last year”

Talk about a rock solid business model and its future proofed (or heading that way)

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

Marginally wayword, but the FT’s financials were released today. Above we alluded to unique content and the FT have it in spades – here’s media weeks take on it:

“The FT’s total paid circulation grew 8% year on year to 652,000 across print and online, the highest paying readership in its 126-year history. FT.com digital subscriptions grew 31% to 415,000, offsetting nearly 20% falls in its print circulation, now 234,193 (of which 72,251 in the UK). Total revenues from copy sales and subscriptions were $98 million in 2013, with digital subscribers now representing almost two-thirds of the FT’s total paying audience. The group’s corporate users increased nearly 60% to more than 260,000 last year”

Talk about a rock solid business model and its future proofed (or heading that way)

It's remarkable. Especially considering it's bloody expensive! £270, or £380 for the premium subscription (includes Lex Column). Rather oddly, the premium subscription in the US is £100 cheaper than in the UK.

You see the same situation with the WSJ which has, by about 30%, the highest circulation of any US paper - at about 2.25m. There is a mass of readers who continue to pay for high-quality analysis. Look at the FT's Pearson stable-mate, The Economist, which has a circulation of 1.5m.

They likely have very large staff overheads, though. The below attachment is a list of all FT writers on Twitter.

Onthe3rdDay

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

It's remarkable. Especially considering it's bloody expensive! £270, or £380 for the premium subscription (includes Lex Column). Rather oddly, the premium subscription in the US is £100 cheaper than in the UK.

You see the same situation with the WSJ which has, by about 30%, the highest circulation of any US paper - at about 2.25m. There is a mass of readers who continue to pay for high-quality analysis. Look at the FT's Pearson stable-mate, The Economist, which has a circulation of 1.5m.

They likely have very large staff overheads, though. The below attachment is a list of all FT writers on Twitter.

It's worth it! The weekend edition of the paper is easily the best paper on the market. All the articles appear to be fact checked and are mostly written in a non sensationalist style. It's also great to get if you fly with Lufthansa. It's an actual freebie that feels like it worth something.

Mr Pseudonym

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

It's worth it! The weekend edition of the paper is easily the best paper on the market. All the articles appear to be fact checked and are mostly written in a non sensationalist style. It's also great to get if you fly with Lufthansa. It's an actual freebie that feels like it worth something.

I'm in college, and we have free access to the Premium subscription! No way will I be able to afford to continue when I leave. I agree about its quality. Some of the columnists really are superb - Rachman, Wolf, Tett, Brittan, etc, plus the guests. Some might be interested to know that a senior Lex writer is an Irishman called Vincent Boland.

Onthe3rdDay

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

I'm in college, and we have free access to the Premium subscription! No way will I be able to afford to continue when I leave. I agree about its quality. Some of the columnists really are superb - Rachman, Wolf, Tett, Brittan, etc, plus the guests. Some might be interested to know that a senior Lex writer is an Irishman called Vincent Boland.

Depending on the work you go on to do, you can always claim a subscription as an expense.

Mr Pseudonym

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

Depending on the work you go on to do, you can always claim a subscription as an expense.

In the event that I'm on Job Seeker's, should I bill the State?

IRE60

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

In the event that I'm on Job Seeker's, should I bill the State?

Too Funny!

IThis is a great story

http://cjr.org/the_audit/the_ft_breaks_the_law_of_large.php

Have a look at the subs/circ graphic

IRE60

Thankfully the FT gets us away from the IFJ anyway!!! But before we go...

Way back, RTE1 radio used to have a farming slot before the 6 news, price of ewes and fat lambs, farming weather, blight forecasts and cumley maidens etc.

The feeling being that farmers would barrel home at aroung 6 - in the darker months - for the 'tea' (dinner being in the midddle of the day).

Anyway, the adverts between 5;30 and 6;30 were for brands dealing in farming and animal husbandry. Huge money at the time.

The Ad agencies referrred to the slot as the 'scour hour'

C

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

Too Funny!

IThis is a great story

http://cjr.org/the_audit/the_ft_breaks_the_law_of_large.php

Have a look at the subs/circ graphic

It's really interesting that from 2010-2012 the increase in digital subs was almost exactly matched by a decrease in print circulation, and it's only a spike in digital subs in 2013 which has resulted in the overall increase.

Any opinions on why the digital subs account for two thirds of FT's circulation, but only one third of the WSJ's?

Returning to the cost of the FT: its cover price is £2.50, compared with the Times and Telegraph's £1.20 and the Guardian's £1.60.

IRE60

Good point on the WSJ vs FT subs - I'd have to delve a bit deeper. On the face of it the FT digital offering is very impressive. I'd have to look at the WSJ offering. But still, they both have unique content os they are in a good position.

Pseudo, may i enquire, what you doing in college?