Author: Mintel Group Ltd.
Last saved by: HTTP server

Regional Newspapers - UK - August 2014

INTRODUCTION
Definition
Abbreviations
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The market
Figure 1: Trends in the annual circulation of print regional newspapers, 2009-19
Figure 2: Trends in the number of daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2009-19
Market factors
Figure 3: Digital device household ownership levels, April 2013 and 2014
Companies, brands and innovation
Figure 4: Top ten regional newspaper groups, ranked by weekly print circulation, January 2014
Figure 5: Leading regional press online networks, daily unique browsers, 2009-13
The consumer
Local and regional newspaper readership
Figure 6: Local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
Types of local and regional newspapers read
Figure 7: Types of local and regional newspapers read, December 2013
Attitudes towards pricing
Figure 8: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, December 2013
Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers
Figure 9: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, December 2013
What we think
ISSUES IN THE MARKET
Can a strategy of raising print cover prices provide breathing space for publishers to develop stronger digital revenue streams?
The facts
The implications
Can regional newspaper publishers persuade consumers to pay to access their content online?
The facts
The implications
How can regional newspaper titles increase engagement with the communities they serve?
The facts
The implications
TREND APPLICATION
Trend: Life Hacking
Trend: Moral Brands
Trend: Collective Intelligence
MARKET DRIVERS
Key points
Broadband penetration increases importance of digital platforms
Figure 10: Trends in broadband penetration, 2008-13
Older audiences becoming more tech savvy presents opportunity
Figure 11: Digital device household ownership levels, April 2013 and 2014
Jury still out over cover price increases
Figure 12: UK cover price for leading regional dailies, December 2013
Monetising digital products
Is the BBC hurting regional news?
WHO’S INNOVATING?
Key points
Local coffee shop newspaper
Advancing digital platforms
The virtual office
User generated material
Just the good news
Online first
MARKET SIZE AND FORECAST
Key points
A tale of two halves
Figure 13: Trends in circulation and number of titles for regional newspapers, 2009-14
Digital audience leaps ahead
Figure 14: Trends in numbers of daily unique browsers for major regional news networks*, 2009-14
Forecast
Figure 15: Forecast trends in annual circulation of print regional newspapers, 2009-19
Figure 16: Forecast trends in the number of daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2009-19
SEGMENT PERFORMANCE
Key points
Title decline shows signs of slowing down
Figure 17: Trends in the structure of the regional newspaper industry, by number of titles, 2012-14
Figure 18: Regional weekly circulation trends, by frequency of publication, 2012-14
MARKET SHARE
Key points
Johnston Press publishes the most titles…
Figure 19: Top ten regional newspaper groups, by number of print titles published, January 2014
… but Trinity Mirror leads in terms of circulation
Figure 20: Top ten regional newspaper groups, ranked by weekly print circulation, January 2014
Newsquest leads the digital channel
Figure 21: Leading regional press online networks, daily unique browsers, 2009-13
Morning and evening regional print titles equally affected by declines
Figure 22: Circulation trends for leading daily regional newspaper print titles, Jun-Dec 2013
COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS
Trinity Mirror plc
Company overview
Figure 23: Average net circulation figures for Trinity Mirror plc’s regional daily titles, 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 24: Key financial data for Trinity Mirror plc, 2008-12
Strategy and recent activity
Online presence and recent promotions
Gannett Co., Inc./Newsquest Media Group Ltd
Company overview
Figure 25: Average net circulation of Newsquest daily regional titles, 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 26: Key financial data for Gannett UK Limited, 2008-12
Figure 27: Newsquest plc, trends in advertising revenue by segment, Q2 2014
Figure 28: Newsquest plc, trends in classified advertising revenue by type, Q2 2014
Strategy and recent activity
Online presence and recent promotions
Local World Ltd
Company overview
Figure 29: Average net circulation of Local World daily titles, six months to June 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 30: Key financial data for Local World Limited, 2013
Figure 31: Local World ltd, revenue by segment, 2013
Strategy and recent activity
Online presence and recent promotions
Johnston Press plc
Company overview
Figure 32: Average net circulation of Johnston Press’ regional daily titles, six months to June 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 33: Key financial data for Johnston Press plc, 2008-12
Figure 34: Johnston Press plc revenues by sector, HY 2013 vs HY2014
Strategy and recent activity
Online presence and recent promotions
DMG media/DMGT (formerly Associated Newspapers Ltd)
Company overview
Key financial information
Figure 35: Key financial data for Associated Newspapers Limited, 2008-12
Figure 36: Average net circulation, Metro 2010-13
Strategy and recent activity
Online presence and recent promotions
Evening Standard Ltd
Company overview
Figure 37: Average net circulation figures for London Evening Standard, Jan-Jun 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 38: Key financial data for Evening Standard Limited, 2011-13
Recent activity
Archant Ltd
Company overview
Key financial information
Figure 39: Key financial data for Archant Ltd, 2008-12
Recent activity
DC Thomson & Company Ltd
Company overview
Key financial information
Figure 40: Average net circulation figures for DC Thomson & Co Ltd’s regional daily titles, 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 41: Key financial data for DC Thomson & Company Ltd, 2012-13
Recent activity
Tindle Newspapers Ltd
Company overview
Key financial information
Figure 42: Key financials for Tindle Newspapers Limited, 2012-13
Strategy and recent activity
The Midland News Association Ltd
Company overview
Key financial information
Figure 43: Average net circulation of The Midland News Association’s daily regional titles, 2012-13
Key financial information
Figure 44: Key financials for The Midland News Association Limited, 2008-12
Strategy and recent activity
BRAND COMMUNICATION AND PROMOTION
Key points
Regional newspapers’ adspend declines
Figure 45: Main monitored media adspend on leading* regional newspapers, 2010-13
Radio and TV dominate
Figure 46: Main monitored media adspend for leading* regional newspapers, by media type, 2010-13
Newspapers’ spend fluctuates year-to-year
Figure 47: Main monitored media adspend for leading* regional newspapers, 2010-13
Radio advertising favoured in 2013
Figure 48: Main monitored adspend for leading* regional newspapers by type, 2013
Liverpool Echo rises to the top on social media
Figure 49: Facebook ‘likes’ and Twitter followers for selected regional newspapers, March 2014
LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWSPAPER READERSHIP
Key points
More than half of adults read a local/regional newspaper regularly
Figure 50: Local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
Clear division between preferences of younger and older readers
Figure 51: Local and Regional Newspaper Readership, by gender, age and socio-economic status, December 2013
London peak reflects concentration of titles in the capital
Figure 52: Local and regional newspaper readership, by region, December 2013
TYPES OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS READ
Key points
Paid-for titles still preferred to freesheets
Figure 53: Types of local and regional newspapers read, December 2013
Clear gender and age variations in readership
Figure 54: Types of local and regional newspapers read, by gender, age and socio-economic status, December 2013
Figure 55: Types of local and regional newspapers read, by region December 2013
Print/online readers are the most heavy consumers of local/regional news
Figure 56: Types of local or regional print newspaper read, by local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRICING
Key points
Almost three quarters prepared to pay for a local or regional newspaper
Figure 57: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, December 2013
Weekly paid-for readers prepared to pay the most for local/regional news
Figure 58: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, by most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
Figure 59: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, by next most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
Digital-only readers hostile towards paying for local/regional newspapers
Figure 60: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, by most popular local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
Figure 61: Attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, by next most popular local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
ATTITUDES TOWARDS LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Key points
Readers see local/regional newspapers as having a strong community role
Figure 62: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, December 2013
Moderate demand for hyperlocal and citizen journalism
Only 4% prepared to pay to access online content
Digital local/regional news readers are heavier users of social media
Figure 63: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by local and regional newspaper readership, December 2013
Paid-for weekly readers most engaged with local/regional newspapers
Figure 64: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
Figure 65: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by next most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
APPENDIX – MARKET SIZE AND FORECAST
Figure 66: UK annual regional newspapers print circulation forecast scenarios, 2014-19
Figure 67: UK daily unique browsers of regional newspaper digital networks, 2014-19
APPENDIX – LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWSPAPER READERSHIP
Figure 68: Most popular local and regional newspaper readership, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 69: Next most popular local and regional newspaper readership, by demographics, December 2013
APPENDIX – TYPES OF LOCAL OR REGIONAL PRINT NEWSPAPER READ
Figure 70: Most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 71: Next most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 72: Types of local or regional print newspaper read, by most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
Figure 73: Types of local or regional print newspaper read, by next most popular types of local or regional print newspaper read, December 2013
APPENDIX – ATTITUDES TOWARDS PRICING
Figure 74: Willingness to pay up to £1.50 for weekly local or regional newspapers, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 75: Willingness to pay more than £1.50 for weekly local or regional newspapers, by demographics, December 2013
APPENDIX – ATTITUDES TOWARDS LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Figure 76: Most popular attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 77: Next most popular attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by demographics, December 2013
Figure 78: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by attitudes towards pricing of weekly local or regional newspapers, December 2013
Figure 79: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by most popular attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, December 2013
Figure 80: Attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, by next most popular attitudes towards local/regional newspapers, December 2013

This report is supplied in accordance with Mintel's terms and conditions.  
© Mintel Group Ltd.