National Newspaper ABC Round-Up – June 2000

Month On Month The national newspaper sector saw an overall increase in sales of 0.4% during June, according to the latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Most titles saw a slight rise in circulation in a month on month analysis, with the only significant loss coming from Sport First, which fell by 19%, a loss of 12,000 readers.

The Observer put on a healthy 5% – an extra 20,000 readers – due to the popularity of its sports supplement, which launched last month (see Observer Rewrites Sport With Monthly Title). News International titles, the Sun and the News of the World saw increases of 2.1% and 2.9% respectively, due in part to the group’s “Millionaire” promotion during the period.

Year On Year

Quality Market The quality market increased by 0.5% in a year on year analysis, pushed largely by healthy rises in sales of the Sunday Business, which climbed 23%, and the Financial Times, which added 72,000 readers to its circulation base, an increase of 19%. The greatest fall came from the Times, which is still struggling after a major revamp earlier this year (see Newsline Brief). Its circulation fell by 2.5% – or 18,000 copies – in a year on year analysis.

Mid Market The mid-market dropped slightly in a year on year analysis. Sales of the Express titles fell again, the Daily Express down 2.8% and the Sunday Express dropping 2.5%. The Daily Mail, however, continued to add to its circulation base, putting on an extra 1.1% – or 26,000 sales.

Popular Market The popular market saw the greatest losses in a year on year analysis, falling 3.9% overall. The Sunday Sport (down 7%), Daily Record (down 6.8%) and the Sunday People (down 6.3%) saw the greatest falls during the period. Sport First, however, saw a 9.8% increase, a total of 6,779 extra sales.

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