Fairfax Publications - Readership Results

Media Release

Fairfax Publications - Readership Results
12 Months To June 2005

The latest readership results released by Nielsen Media Research have shown pleasing results from Fairfax New Zealand’s stable of newspapers and magazines.

According to these results, in a typical week Fairfax newspapers reach approximately 2.6 million or three quarters of all New Zealanders 10yrs+ nationally. This represents the same high level of reach achieved in the same time period the previous year.

The Sunday Star-Times remains New Zealand’s most read newspaper based on average issue readership of 666,000 people 10 yrs+, while its sister publication Sunday News remains New Zealand’s favourite tabloid and third highest read newspaper based on average issue readership of 462,000 people 10yrs+. This is well over 100,000 more readers than APN’s Sunday tabloid result, which is based on Jan-Jun 2005.

Despite the introduction of a competitor in the Auckland Sunday newspaper market late last year, Fairfax Sundays have only experienced a marginal decrease of 13,000 or 2.5% year on year within Auckland. In fact Sunday Star Times’ Auckland readership for all people 15yrs+ is unchanged at 232,000.

Also in Auckland, Fairfax Suburban Newspapers have confirmed their number one position with a combined weekly reach of 723,000 Aucklanders 10yrs+, several hundred thousand readers ahead of APN’s Aucklander titles.

Joan Withers, CEO of Fairfax New Zealand said Fairfax continues to demonstrate strong local market penetration through New Zealand’s other major centres.

“It has been Fairfax’s strategy to get closer to the communities it serves through a combination of metropolitan dailies and community newspapers, and so our strong performance at this level is pleasing.”

The Dominion Post and Central Community Newspapers reach a combined 81.4% of all Wellingtonians, The Press together with the Christchurch Mail have a combined penetration of 71.2% within Christchurch while The Waikato Times and Hamilton Press reach 74.4% of all people within Hamilton on a typical day. Within these centres Fairfax Metropolitan Dailies are read by an average of 75.6% of all people 15yrs+ each week.
Nationally the Waikato Times continues to grow with an average issue readership of 99,000, confirming the paper’s position as the country’s fourth most read metropolitan daily newspaper. The Dominion Post remains New Zealand’s central regions’ most read newspaper with 237,000 readers each day and 409,000 each week. The Press demonstrates the loyalty of its reader base, by continuing to dominate the South Island with 223,000 daily readers, all people 15 yrs+.

Readership results from Fairfax’s magazine division show that Fairfax lifestyle titles are holding their own in a very active magazine market with the multi award winning Cuisine & NZ House and Garden, together with Sunday magazine all cementing their market leader status within their respective categories. TV Guide remains New Zealand’s number one weekly TV listing title. A move to 100% gloss paper has been well accepted by both readers and advertisers.

Fairfax Specialist titles also show their market leadership with Boating, Fishing, Fish and Game, NZ Trucking and Growing Today all maintaining market leader positions.

Sources:
Nielsen Media Research National Readership Survey July 2004 -June 2005
Nielsen Media Research National Readership Survey January-June 2005

ENDS

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