NSTP group papers lead circulation plunge
Published: Jun 4, 2014 8:22 AM | Updated: Jun 4, 2014 1:35 PM
The New Straits Times Group of newspapers suffered a tremendous blow to its circulation in the second half of last year, the Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia (ABC) figures show.
According to the figures released today, the total copies of newspapers sold in West Malaysia dropped by more than 260,000 copies in the second half of the year.
NSTP group's flagship daily the New Straits Times suffered the biggest drop in circulation in the group.
NST's circulation dropped by 32.78 percent or close to 37,885 copies in the second half compared to January to June 201
The New Straits Times Group of newspapers suffered a tremendous blow to its circulation in the second half of last year, the Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia (ABC) figures show.
According to the figures released today, the total copies of newspapers sold in West Malaysia dropped by more than 260,000 copies from in the second half of the year.
NSTP group's flagship daily the New Straits Times suffered the biggest drop in circulation in the group.
New Straits Times' circulation dropped by 32.78 percent or close to 37,885 copies in the second half compared to January to June 2013 (see chart at the end of the story).
Circulation for its Sunday edition, the New Sunday Times also dropped by about 25 percent to 98,776 copies in July to December 2013.
The group's Malay language dailies Berita Harian and Harian Metro bled with circulation for the former dropped 25 percent and the latter by 11 percent.
This despite Harian Metro, a popular tabloid, once taking poll position as the most widely-circulated Malay-language daily.
In December 2013, its circulation was 342,689 copies, while its Sunday edition's circulation dropped by 10 percent.
Berita Harian's Sunday edition's circulation plunged more than 26,000 copies (14 percent).
Utusan's Sunday edition is top
Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia, however, fared better than its NSTP counterpart.
Circulation for the daily dropped at smaller rate of 6.3 percent (12,204 copies) in the second half of last year.
Its Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia, however, was the highest circulated Malay newspaper in uly to December 2013, suffering only a marginal 1.74 percent drop in circulation compared to in the first half of 2013.
Utusan group tabloid Kosmo! and its Sunday edition Kosmo! Ahad bucked the trend with circulation rising slightly for both papers.
On the English side, the Star and the Sunday Star maintained its circulation at close to 300,000 copies.
However, according to the Star, subscription for its digital edition (Epaper) is on the rise with close to 50,000 subscribers.
Business newspaper The Edge's circulation rose from 20,720 in January-June to 24,284 ub the second half, a rise of 17 percent.
A similar trend of reduced circulation was seen to a lesser extent among the Chinese press.
The exception was China Press which maintained its circulation at about 176,000 copies between the first half and the second half of 2013.
Circulation dropped by 5.4 percent for Guan Ming Daily, 3.6 percent for Guan Ming Evening Edition, China Press Evening Edition (5.9 percent), Sin Chew Daily (4.9 percent) and Sun Chew Evening Edition (11 percent).
According to KiniBiz the audit committee chairperson Margaret Au Yong revealed the figures at a media conference in Ho Chi Minh City.
In a statement, the ABC said: “Most dailies could not sustain the numbers after the first half of 2013 (January to June 2013), which was during the GE13 (2013 general election).
“Sin Chew (Daily) is the number one daily with 366,390 copies followed by Harian Metro at 342,689 copies and The Star with 289,611 copies.
“Under the free and controlled category, The Sun recorded 305,000 copies, Red Tomato 209,599 copies and Malaysia SME 50,000 copies,” the ABCreportedly said.
Read more at KiniBiz.
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According to the figures released today, the total copies of newspapers sold in West Malaysia dropped by more than 260,000 copies from in the second half of the year.NSTP group's flagship daily the New Straits Times suffered the biggest drop in circulation in the group.
New Straits Times' circulation dropped by 32.78 percent or close to 37,885 copies in the second half compared to January to June 2013 (see chart at the end of the story).
Circulation for its Sunday edition, the New Sunday Times also dropped by about 25 percent to 98,776 copies in July to December 2013.
The group's Malay language dailies Berita Harian and Harian Metro bled with circulation for the former dropped 25 percent and the latter by 11 percent.
This despite Harian Metro, a popular tabloid, once taking poll position as the most widely-circulated Malay-language daily.
In December 2013, its circulation was 342,689 copies, while its Sunday edition's circulation dropped by 10 percent.
Berita Harian's Sunday edition's circulation plunged more than 26,000 copies (14 percent).
Utusan's Sunday edition is top
Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia, however, fared better than its NSTP counterpart.
Circulation for the daily dropped at smaller rate of 6.3 percent (12,204 copies) in the second half of last year.
Its Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia, however, was the highest circulated Malay newspaper in uly to December 2013, suffering only a marginal 1.74 percent drop in circulation compared to in the first half of 2013.Utusan group tabloid Kosmo! and its Sunday edition Kosmo! Ahad bucked the trend with circulation rising slightly for both papers.
On the English side, the Star and the Sunday Star maintained its circulation at close to 300,000 copies.
However, according to the Star, subscription for its digital edition (Epaper) is on the rise with close to 50,000 subscribers.
Business newspaper The Edge's circulation rose from 20,720 in January-June to 24,284 ub the second half, a rise of 17 percent.
A similar trend of reduced circulation was seen to a lesser extent among the Chinese press.The exception was China Press which maintained its circulation at about 176,000 copies between the first half and the second half of 2013.
Circulation dropped by 5.4 percent for Guan Ming Daily, 3.6 percent for Guan Ming Evening Edition, China Press Evening Edition (5.9 percent), Sin Chew Daily (4.9 percent) and Sun Chew Evening Edition (11 percent).
According to KiniBiz the audit committee chairperson Margaret Au Yong revealed the figures at a media conference in Ho Chi Minh City.
In a statement, the ABC said: “Most dailies could not sustain the numbers after the first half of 2013 (January to June 2013), which was during the GE13 (2013 general election).
“Sin Chew (Daily) is the number one daily with 366,390 copies followed by Harian Metro at 342,689 copies and The Star with 289,611 copies.
“Under the free and controlled category, The Sun recorded 305,000 copies, Red Tomato 209,599 copies and Malaysia SME 50,000 copies,” the ABCreportedly said.
Read more at KiniBiz.
Related stories
Najib can but I won't sue Mkini, says Mahathir
Langkawi MP in another FB blunder on Yammy
A case of shooting the messenger
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