NS Survey shows growth in regional press online
- Added:
- Jul 30, 2007
According to Audit Bureau of Circulation figures for the six months to June 30, 2007, which reported year-on-year drops in circulation for almost all local newspapers, only three regional daily newspapers saw a year-on-year increase in their weekday circulations according to today’s ABCs, led by a 2% hike for The Swindon Advertiser.
But according to the Annual Regional Press Survey from the Newspaper Society, regional newspaper companies are continuing the evolution into multimedia businesses, producing up to 25% more websites and niche publications in 2006, compared with 2005.
The survey reported that the number of regional press websites, radio stations and niche publications all grew by between 21% and 25% - with the number of websites produced up from 828 to 1,102.
The number of core regional newspaper titles went up slightly to 1,303, while the number of stand-alone magazines and niche publications went up from 595 to 755.
The industry now has 36 radio stations and two television stations, in addition to the online 'television' services and video streaming available on many local newspaper websites.
Newspaper Society president Russell Whitehair, chairman of NWN Media Limited, said: "The regional press is growing and reaching new audiences across its print and digital platforms. We know that 40m people already read a local paper in print. Growth in local newspaper websites means they now collectively represent one of the top UK online properties, attracting an estimated 20m unique users a month."
Despite the huge growth in local press websites, online advertising revenues – which grew by 18.3% in 2006 - accounted for just £71 million (2.5%) of total regional press ad revenues, with print contributing 94.5%.
Regional press turnover was £3.87 billion in 2006, with advertising and sponsorship revenue accounting for 73% of the total (£2.83 billion). The sector’s contribution to UK GDP (value added) was £2.08 billion.