ABC National Newspaper Round-Up – September 2005

Daily Newspaper Market

The latest ABC results for the daily newspaper market in September showed the Guardian’s new Berliner format enjoying an increase of 7.4% in its circulation year on year, with the quality daily market overall enjoying a healthy performance during the month.

The mid and popular market, however, was not so optimistic, with declines in circulation across the board. Despite a dip of 1.1%, the Sun held on to its position as the nation’s favourite daily read, with its circulation still over three million.

The Daily Mail also suffered a blow during September, dipping by 2.8% year on year, while the Daily Mirror lost 2.9% to command a circulation of 1,741,740.

Overall, the total daily newspaper market saw a drop in circulation of 3.61% year on year.

Quality Daily Titles

The quality daily newspaper market in September enjoyed a overall healthy performance, with the Independent the only publication to suffer a decline, dropping slightly by 0.8% year on year to command a circulation of 262,552.

All other daily’s saw circulation increases, with the new Berliner sized Guardian reaping the benefits of its format change, leading the way with a 7.4% year on year increase, hitting a circulation of 404,187.

The Times enjoyed the second largest increase, gaining 5.8% and attracting a circulation of 699,425, while the Daily Telegraph and Financial Times both pushed their circulation up by 0.4% year on year and 0.2%, respectively.

Mid Market Daily Titles

The latest ABC figures were not so strong for the mid market daily titles, with the Daily Express and Daily Mail both suffering declines.

The em>Daily Express, lost a dramatic 13.3% year on year during September, dragging its circulation down to 831,373. The Daily Mail followed suit, slipping by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, seeing its circulation drop to 2,373,756.

Popular Daily Titles

The downwards trend was continued in the popular daily market, with all publications seeing drops in circulation.

The Daily Record saw the biggest dip in circulation, loosing 5.5% year on year to command a circulation of 462,814, while the Daily Star followed closely, slipping by 5.1%.

Despite a drop of 1.1% in circulation, the Sun retained its position as the nation’s favoured daily newspaper with attracting a circulation of 3,300,208. Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror dropped by 2.9% year on year, taking its circulation down to 1,741740.

Sunday Newspaper Market

The Sunday newspaper market saw declines across the board, with just the Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday managing to increase their circulation, albeit slightly by just 0.5% year on year and 0.3% respectively.

The News of the World retained its position as market leader, despite a drop of 3.1%, attracting a circulation of 3.7 million during September. Elsewhere, the Daily Star Sunday suffered the largest blow, losing 15.4% of its circulation, while the Sunday Express also dropped by a dramatic 14.4% year on year. Overall, the total Sunday newspaper market saw a decline of 4.1% year on year in circulation.

Quality Sunday Titles

The quality Sunday titles saw just one increase during September, with the Sunday Times the only publication managing to push its circulation up, albeit by just 0.5% year on year to command a circulation of 1,375,972. The Independent on Sunday and Observer both suffered drops of 5.2% year on year, attracting a circulation of 203,110 and 438,365 respectively. The Sunday Telegraph followed the downwards trend, losing 1.8% year on year.

Mid Market Sunday Titles

Looking towards the mid market Sunday sector, the Sunday Express lost 14.4% year on year, dragging its circulation down to 859,275.

Elsewhere, the Mail on Sunday increased slightly, rising by 0.3% year on year, reaching a circulation total of 2,344,834.

Popular Sunday Titles

The nation’s popular Sunday titles looked similarly downbeat, with the Daily Star Sunday suffering the biggest decline, dropping by 15.4% to command a circulation of 410,595. The News of the World managed to retain its position as market leader in the Sunday titles division, despite a drop of 3.1%, attracting a circulation of 3,769,636. Elsewhere, the People and Sunday Mirror both saw declines, dipping by 9.7% year on year and 3.2% respectively.

Six Monthly Year On Year Analysis

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