FT subscription revenues ‘to overtake ad income for first time’

FT Group chief executive, John Ridding attributed the growth to cover price rises, online charging and a rising number of corporate clients.

FT circulation revenues rose in 2009, despite a drop year on year in print circulation and it says revenues from FT.com digital subscribers rose 30% over the year, as readership rose around the world mirroring a strong appetite for financial news during the economic downturn.

Ridding said the FT.com has seen an increase of 30 percent amongst online subscribers last year.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ridding said: "It's easier for us, I don't deny that. But equally, I don't think anyone can afford to dismiss the idea of developing paid-for content because journalism is valuable. It is significant in that it is reaffirming there is life beyond advertising for online publishing ... it does offer an alternative where an alternative was regarded for a long time as not existing."
 
"In some of the key areas we are at a crucial stage of transformation, so that we reckon next year will be the first year that revenues from content overtake revenues from print advertising. The way things are evolving, content revenues should overtake all advertising revenues by 201," Ridding added.

The FT group says the global readership figure is expected to be around the 2 million mark compared with the current 1.3 million print readership figure.

The total daily paid-for circulation figure – the number of readers paying to access the FT's content on a daily basis – was up to more than 563,000 in 2009 from 544,180 in 2008.

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