Trinity Mirror

Two Trinity Mirror Sunday titles experienced more than 50% increases in circulation in the months following the closure of News of the World


Two Sunday titles published by Trinity Mirror experienced more than 50 per cent increases in circulation in the months following the closure in July of the News of the World, the publisher reported today, including a 61 per cent increase for the Sunday Mirror.

In an interim management statement for the 17-week period ending 30 October Trinity Mirror, which also publishes the Daily Mirror and hundreds of regional products, reported "a significant improvement in the circulation volumes and revenue performance for Sunday titles", which also included a 58 per cent increase for the People and 5 per cent rise for the Sunday Mail.

Across its nationals division the publisher reported an increase in circulation revenues of 10 per cent, adding that its national portfolio is “ahead of market trends” for the period, although advertising revenues declined by 10 per cent.

"Advertising markets are expected to remain challenging, showing year-on-year declines and month-on-month volatility for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012," the report adds.

"However, for the rest of this year we anticipate continued year-on-year growth in circulation and other revenues."

Advertising revenues were also down within its regionals division, which fell by 7 per cent, while circulation revenues dropped by 3 per cent, according to the statement. Digital revenues however increased by 3 per cent, with advertising revenues up 2 per cent.

In August the publisher posted its interim results for the first half of the year, announcing a 17 per cent drop in adjusted pre-tax profits to £41.9 million. At this point total revenue for the group had fallen 3 per cent to £371 million, down from a 6 per cent drop in the first quarter which at the time was largely credited to a boost from the closure of the News of the World. At the time circulations for national titles were already up 4 per cent and the company said it was “highly encouraged by the considerable circulation volume growth seen by our national Sunday titles”.
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