Newspapers preferred media globally; India records 13% rise in sales

China too sees a spurt in newspaper sales.

BY A CORRESPONDENT

6 June, 2007:

Notwithstanding competition from television, the internet and other digital distribution channels, newspapers have retained their position as the preferred media the world over. Global sales of newspapers rose by 2.3% in 2006, driven by notable growth in India and China.

India, the world’s second largest market for newspapers after China, recorded one of the fastest growth rates of 12.93% in sales in 2006 and 53.63% over five years, according to the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
In India, newspaper advertisement revenues rose by 23.18% in 2006 and by 85% over five years.

In the United States, revenue from newspaper advertisement fell by 1.68% in 2006, but over the last five years, the figure rose by 5.69%.

While worldwide circulation of newspapers increased by 2.3% in 2006 to 515 million daily, the growth was 9.48% over the past five years, WAN said, quoting latest data from its annual World Press Trends report.

China was the largest market for newspapers, with 98.7 million copies sold daily, followed by 88.9 million in India, 69.1 million in Japan, 52.3 million in the United States and 21.1 million in Germany.

Seven of the world’s 10 best-selling dailies are published in Asia. China, Japan and India account for 60 of the top 100.

The survey has information from 232 counties and territories where newspapers are published. WAN represents 18,000 newspapers.

The data from WAN’s annual survey of world press trends was released to over 1,600 publishers, editors and other senior newspaper executives from 109 countries at the 60th World Newspaper Congress and the 14th World Editors Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.

According to Timothy Balding, CEO of the World Association of Newspapers, “newspapers in developing markets continue to increase circulation by leaps and bounds, and in mature markets are showing remarkable resilience against the onslaught of digital media.”

In fact, newspapers are benefiting from opportunities provided by digital distribution channels. As the digital tide gathers strength, says Timothy Balding, it is remarkable that the press in print continues to be the media of preference for the majority of readers who want to remain informed.

Taking into account also the free dailies, global circulation rose by 4.61% in 2006 – the increase being 14.76% over the past five years.

Global sales of paid dailies rose to a record 515 million daily, and the combined circulation of paid and free dailies rose to 556 million in 2006.

Advertising revenues in paid dailies grew by 3.77% in 2006 – and by 15.77% over the five years.

In all, 17 countries witnessed growth in newspaper advertising in 2006, including India, Hong Kong, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

The Japanese bought the most number of newspapers for a given population: 630.9 copies daily per thousand adults. Norway followed with 601.2, Colombia with 587.8, Finland with 514.7 and Sweden with 466.2.

The Belgians spend the most time with newspapers – 54 minutes on an average a day. The Chinese, the Finns and the Brazilians followed, with 48 minutes on an average.

Over 515 million people buy a newspaper every day – up from 488 million in 2002.

The average readership was an estimated 1.4 billion-plus a day in 2006.

The total number of paid-for daily titles rose by 3.46% in 2006, and by 17.67% since 2002 to a record 11,207 titles.

According to WAN’s annual survey of world press trends, the number of paid-for newspaper copies rose everywhere expect in South America, where it was stable. The number of titles rose by 7% in Asia, 1.3% in Europe, 0.67% in North America, 1.2% in Africa and 1.14% in Australia and Oceania.