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Ireland's newspapers suffer continuing sales losses Ireland's newspapers suffer continuing sales losses
(7 months later)
Print sales for Ireland's main daily and Sunday national newspapers show, unsurprisingly, a continuing downward trend, according to the officially audited ABC figures.Print sales for Ireland's main daily and Sunday national newspapers show, unsurprisingly, a continuing downward trend, according to the officially audited ABC figures.
In the second half of 2012, the Irish Times's circulation fell by 8% to an average sale of 88,356 copies a day compared to 92,565 in the same period in 2011.In the second half of 2012, the Irish Times's circulation fell by 8% to an average sale of 88,356 copies a day compared to 92,565 in the same period in 2011.
The Irish Independent slipped by 5.5% to record a daily sale of 123,981. The third-placed national daily, The Examiner, dropped by 6% to just under 40,000.The Irish Independent slipped by 5.5% to record a daily sale of 123,981. The third-placed national daily, The Examiner, dropped by 6% to just under 40,000.
Ireland's home-produced Sundays fared badly too. The tabloid Sunday World, with a six-monthly average of 217,141, dropped by 13.6% year-on-year and the broadsheet Sunday Business Post fell by 11.5% to 39,416.Ireland's home-produced Sundays fared badly too. The tabloid Sunday World, with a six-monthly average of 217,141, dropped by 13.6% year-on-year and the broadsheet Sunday Business Post fell by 11.5% to 39,416.
The Sunday Independent's 5.4% decline took its sale down to 237,185, a creditable performance in a difficult market and less than 1% fewer than it sold in the first half of 2012.The Sunday Independent's 5.4% decline took its sale down to 237,185, a creditable performance in a difficult market and less than 1% fewer than it sold in the first half of 2012.
Elsewhere, there were minus signs for almost all of the Republic's local weeklies, with typical losses of between 4 to 7%, much in line with recent results for equivalent titles in the UK.Elsewhere, there were minus signs for almost all of the Republic's local weeklies, with typical losses of between 4 to 7%, much in line with recent results for equivalent titles in the UK.
The two double-digit losers were the Donegal Democrat and the Leinster Leader, both down by just over 11%.The two double-digit losers were the Donegal Democrat and the Leinster Leader, both down by just over 11%.
Slipping sales of papers in Northern IrelandSlipping sales of papers in Northern Ireland
North of the border, the situation was, if anything, worse. The Belfast Telegraph, so long the dominant title in Northern Ireland, sold a daily average of 49,530 copies in the six months up to December 2012. That was more than 7% fewer than in the same six months the year before.North of the border, the situation was, if anything, worse. The Belfast Telegraph, so long the dominant title in Northern Ireland, sold a daily average of 49,530 copies in the six months up to December 2012. That was more than 7% fewer than in the same six months the year before.
But only 77% of its headline sales were bought at the 70p cover price. More than 8,500 copies were free pick-ups and a further 2,500 were bulk sales, copies sold at a fraction of the cover price to airports and hotels.But only 77% of its headline sales were bought at the 70p cover price. More than 8,500 copies were free pick-ups and a further 2,500 were bulk sales, copies sold at a fraction of the cover price to airports and hotels.
It meant that another daily paper published in Belfast, the Irish News, outsold its rival. It sold 40,917 copies, a fall of 2.4% on the year before, but giving it a lead over the Telegraph of more than 2,000 copies. The Ulster News Letter dropped by almost 5% to 21,475.It meant that another daily paper published in Belfast, the Irish News, outsold its rival. It sold 40,917 copies, a fall of 2.4% on the year before, but giving it a lead over the Telegraph of more than 2,000 copies. The Ulster News Letter dropped by almost 5% to 21,475.
The Telegraph's owner, Independent News & Media, will also be unhappy that its other Belfast title, Sunday Life, took a 12% tumble to a weekly sale of 47,584.The Telegraph's owner, Independent News & Media, will also be unhappy that its other Belfast title, Sunday Life, took a 12% tumble to a weekly sale of 47,584.
Among the worst performers of the paid-for northern Irish weeklies were the Derry Journal series (down 18%), the Ulster Star (-11.7%) and the Newry Reporter (-11.3%).Among the worst performers of the paid-for northern Irish weeklies were the Derry Journal series (down 18%), the Ulster Star (-11.7%) and the Newry Reporter (-11.3%).
Among the best of the paid-fors were the North Belfast News (up 4%), the Newtownards Chronicle & County Down Observer (up 0.2%) and the Impartial Reporter in Enniskillen (down just 0.5%).Among the best of the paid-fors were the North Belfast News (up 4%), the Newtownards Chronicle & County Down Observer (up 0.2%) and the Impartial Reporter in Enniskillen (down just 0.5%).
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