Report: Regional Newspapers - UK

Issues in the Market
Main issues
Definition
Abbreviations
Market in Brief
The current market
Adding value and quality
Consumer views
How companies are performing
- Figure 1: Top ten regional newspaper publishers, by circulation, 2005-09
Looking ahead
Internal Market Environment
Key points
Regionals more exposed
Time for a more radical approach?
The opposing view
New tools for advertisers
Capturing change
More consolidation?
Diversity for consumers
- Figure 2: Types of websites browsed for information purposes in the last three months, October 2008 and January 2009
Accessing the world
- Figure 3: Internet penetration at home/work/place of study or elsewhere, by demographic sub-group, 2003-09
Online and print opportunities
- Figure 4: Selected newspaper features adults are ' very interested' in, 2004-08
- Figure 5: Other newspaper topics adults are ' very interested' in, 2004-08
More scope for home delivery?
- Figure 6: Where newspapers are purchased, 2008
Broader Market Environment
Key points
Breathing space
- Figure 7: Age structure of the UK population, 2004-14
The other plus point
- Figure 8: UK population, by socio-economic group, 2004-14
Economic slowdown
- Figure 9: Trends in GDP, PDI and consumer expenditure, 2004-14
Property ads suffer
- Figure 10: Trends in the housing market, 2004-14
- Figure 11: Number of UK households, by size, 2004-14
Competitive Context
Key points
Consumers and their media
- Figure 12: Agreement with attitudes to news and newspapers, 2008
Online options
- Figure 13: Selected examples of websites and blogs by topic*, 2008
But newspapers compete strongly
- Figure 14: Selected examples of multi-platform data*, June-Dec 2008
Competition from a newer source
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market
Strengths
Unmatched focus on local news and events
Local sports in detail
Can read anywhere, any time
Newspapers offer more -- in print and online
The look and feel is appealing
Weaknesses
Lack of interest
Local papers are too parochial
Why pay?
Newspapers are too slow
Too little time
Market Size and Forecast
Key points
The structure of the regional press
- Figure 15: Free and paid-for titles, 2005-09
The paid-for component
- Figure 16: Annual sales of paid-for regional newspapers, by volume, 2004-14
Overall loss cloaks a mixed picture
Are regionals being hit harder than nationals?
The profit factor
- Figure 17: Selected regional and other publishers, turnover and profit, 2008
Future prospects
A smaller complementary future in print
Working with other media
Considering other business models
Segment Performance
Key points
Ad revenue overview -- a grim picture
- Figure 18: Regional newspaper advertising revenue, by type of advertisement, at current prices, 2004-09
One bright spot
All classified sectors hit
- Figure 19: Regional newspaper classified advertising revenue, by type, 2005-09
The weeklies feel the crunch
- Figure 20: Regional total weekly circulation and titles, by type, 2005-09
Can the dailies provide a way forward?
An overview of the leading paid-for titles
- Figure 21: Top daily paid-for titles, by circulation*, July to December 2006-08
Wide variations
The Manchester Evening News
All change at the Evening Standard
Market Share
Key points
Concentration of ownership
- Figure 22: Summary of market share, by circulation and titles, 2009
Comparisons are a little tricky
Companies and Products
Key points
Who' s who at the top
- Figure 23: Total top ten uk regional newspaper publishers' number of titles and weekly circulation, 2005-09*
Trinity Mirror
Newsquest Media Group
Johnston Press
A&N Media -- Associated Newspapers
Evening Press
A&N Media -- Northcliffe Media
Guardian Media Group
Archant
The Midland News Association
DC Thomson
Tindle Newspapers
Newspaper Readership
Key points
Downward trend with one exception
- Figure 24: Type of newspaper regularly read, 2003-08
Do local, regional and national readerships vary?
- Figure 25: Key demographic differences, by newspaper sector, December 2008
How newspapers fit into lifestyles
- Figure 26: Agreement with local newspaper lifestyle statements, 2008
What about the next generation?
- Figure 27: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, 7-10s and 11-14s, 2004-08
The under 20s online
- Figure 28: The 11-19s who use the internet for newspapers/news, 2004-08
Favoured Content
Key points
Regional and local priorities
- Figure 29: Important sections when choosing a regional/local newspaper to read, December 2008
Consistent differences over time
- Figure 30: Important factors when choosing a regional/local newspaper to read, key demographic groups, December 2008
Appendix -- Broader Market Environment
- Figure 37: Trends in unemployment, 2004-14
Appendix -- Segment Performance
- Figure 38: Total number of regional newspaper titles, grouped by type, 2005-09
- Figure 39: Circulation by type, 2005-09
Appendix -- Companies and Products
- Figure 40: Circulation distribution summary, by publisher and type of title, 2009
- Figure 41: Title distribution summary, by publisher and type of title, 2009
Appendix -- Newspaper Readership
- Figure 42: Type of newspaper read, by demographic sub-group, December 2008
- Figure 43: Trends in agreement with newspaper lifestyle statements, 2004-08
- Figure 44: Agreement with newspaper lifestyle statements, by demographic sub-group, 2008
- Figure 45: Agreement with newspaper lifestyle statements, by demographic sub-group, 2008
- Figure 46: 11-19s who use the internet for newspaper/news by demographic sub-group, 2008
- Figure 47: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographic sub-group, 11-14s, 2008
- Figure 48: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographics, 7-10s, 2008
Appendix -- Favoured Content
- Figure 49: Important sections in reading a regional newspaper, by type of newspapers regularly read, December 2008
- Figure 50: Important sections in reading a regional/local newspaper, by demographic sub-group, December 2008
- Figure 51: Other important sections in reading a regional/local newspaper, by demographic sub-group, December 2008

Regional Newspapers - UK - May 2009

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