FT.com users up 79% to more than 3m

The Financial Times website saw a 79 per cent year-on-year increase in registered users in 2010, taking the total to more than three million, according to preliminary results published today by parent company Pearson.

Today's results also show a 50 per cent increase in digital subscriptions on 2009, with 207,000 registering, and 900,000 downloads of FT apps on mobile phones and tablet devices for the period.

The FT Group, which publishes the FT, recorded a 54 per cent year-on-year increase in operating profits for the year, Pearson said, with adjusted operating profit up from £39 million for 2009 to £60 million for last year.

The group brought in a total revenue for the group of £403 million for the year, a 12 per cent year-on-year increase. Digital and services accounted for 40 per cent of total revenue, Pearson said, up by 14 per cent on 2006. Content accounted for 55 per cent, up 33 per cent on 2006, and advertising 45 per cent, a fall of 67 per cent on 2006.

The FT saw its combined paid print and digital circulation reach 597,000 in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Pearson credited the expansion of FT's premium subscription services, including the launch of FT Tilt and MandateWire US, and the acquisition of Medley Global Advisors, for helping with the gains.

Overall pre-tax profit at Pearson was up 28 per cent to £607 million, a 28 per cent year-on-year increase. Total revenue rose 10 per cent to £5.66 billion.

Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, said: "These numbers add up to another excellent year for Pearson. More important than that, they indicate the changing shape and nature of our company: more digital, more efficient, more exposed to fast-growing economies, more focused on all kinds of learning.

"Our markets will be tough again this year, but we have a proven formula built on investment, innovation and efficiency which we are using to accelerate change in our company and in our markets."

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).