A few crumbs of information fell off the table of independent news and media on via the Sunday Business Post last week. In an interview with Chief Executive Peter Vandermeersch, he indicated current circulation for a number of his titles.
IN+M left the ABC audit process in 2018 and, since then, there have been little or no indications of circulation numbers for their titles.
It shows that over the intervening five years (’18 to ’23) the Sunday Independent and the Sunday World have declined by 13% per annum and the Irish Independent has declined at a much higher rate of 20% per annum.
There was no mention of circulation for the Evening Herald or any of their regional title in the interview.
On a positive note, he did say that digital subscriptions currently stood at 73,000 across the island. The pandemic and the paywall look like they accelerated that growth in 2020.
The digital uptake is very positive and does suggest that the decline in circulation is, in many instances, more of a migration to the digital offering.
| 2018(ABC) | 2020* | 2023* | -% p.a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Independent | 176,580 | 143,000 | 102,000 | -13% |
| Sunday World | 130,083 | 110,000 | 75,000 | -13% |
| Irish Independent | 87,673 | 53,500 | 36,000 | -20% |
| 394,336 | 306,500 | 213,000 | -14% |
* Publisher Statement
