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ABC online: Newspaper websites see mixed results

There was a mixed bag of results for regional newspaper companion websites with some posting huge increase in unique user numbers while others endured a drop.

GMG Regional Media saw a downturn in its overall online performance while Northcliffe Media websites are posting increases across the board, according to figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations today.

Overall GMG Regional Media’s sites saw a year-on-year decrease of 12.3pc in monthly unique users for the period July to December 2009.

Individual sites such as getreading.co.uk, the online arm of the Reading Post, posted a 36.3pc increase while the combined websites of MEN Media lost 25.4pc of its users.

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  • Northcliffe Media’s network of ‘thisis’ websites saw monthly unique user numbers rise overall by 34.9pc with none of the 12 individually audited sites posting a decrease in users.

    A similar success was also reported by Newsquest who saw rises across all its websites, with an increase 21.3pc for its network as a whole.

    Roger Green, MD of Newsquest Digital Media, said: “These excellent numbers show exceptional growth in users of our recruitment, property and motors sections.

    The Kent-based KM Group ‘s digital operations are being audited for the first time while the Midland News Association is posting figures for the second time.

    Year-on-year date for the MNA, publishers of the Express and Star and Shropshire Star, is unavailable but the company has seen a 11.3pc climb in unique users period-on-period.

    Elsewhere, Iliffe’s Cambridge-News.co.uk enjoyed a huge leap of 75.2pc while Scotsman.com saw a 17.6pc fall in users.


    Stats below show average monthly unique user numbers, for the period July to December 2009, with their percentage increase or decrease compared with the same period in 2008.

    GMG Regional Media

    GMG Regional Network 1,697,183, -12.3pc

    getreading.co.uk 149,721, +36.3pc
    getsurrey.co.uk 910,893, -19.2pc
    MEN Media Online Network (All Manchester sites) 1,298,263, -25.4pc
    stockportexpress.co.uk 36,552, -10.5pc
    thejobsmine.co.uk 112,085, +36.7pc

    Iliffe News and Media

    Iliffe Digital Network 555,087, +42.3pc

    cambridge-news.co.uk 240,588, +75.2pc

    Johnston Press

    Johnston Press Network 6,850,952, +11.6pc

    blackpoolgazette.co.uk 249,610, +23.3pc
    halifaxcourier.co.uk 149,931, +27pc
    lep.co.uk 384,132, +28.6pc
    peterboroughtoday.co.uk 165,772, +14.6pc
    portsmouth.co.uk 233,596, +15.7pc

    scotsman.com 1,679,568, -17.6pc
    sunderlandecho.com 203,301, +2.1pc
    thestar.co.uk 322,418, +31pc
    yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk 291,428, +19.4pc
    yorkshirepost.co.uk 304,836, +6.2pc

    Kent Online (KM Group) Network

    First appearance in ABCe figures – average monthly unique users of 231,064.

    Newsquest

    Newsquest Network 5,724,336, +21.3pc

    dailyecho.co.uk 308,476, +46.9pc
    eveningtimes.co.uk 290,544, +19pc
    heraldscotland.com 555,722, (new website, no comparative figures)
    lancashiretelegraph.co.uk 213,119, +11.9pc
    newsshopper.co.uk 168,148, +48.1pc
    oxfordmail.co.uk 178,423, +19.7pc

    swindonadvertiser.co.uk 128,840, +64.4pc
    theargus.co.uk 317,169 +20.9pc
    theboltonnews.co.uk 174,791, +26.2pc
    thenorthernecho.co.uk 285,314, +35.4pc
    thepress.co.uk 179,594, +36.2pc
    thetelegraphandargus.co.uk 240,089, +13.6pc

  • sundayherald.com and theherald.co.uk were replaced by heraldscotland.com in September.
  • Northcliffe Media

    Northcliffe Media Network 3,865,648, +34.9pc

    thisisbristol.co.uk 390,997, +77.9pc
    thisisderbyshire.co.uk 303,728, +21pc
    thisisgloucestershire.co.uk 240,575, +26
    thisisgrimsby.co.uk 165,545, +34.5pc
    thisishull.co.uk 307,607, +29.7pc
    thisisleicestershire.co.uk 289,634 +30.3pc

    thisislincolnshire.co.uk 134,196, +9.8pc
    thisisnottingham.co.uk 379,561, +36.7pc
    thisisplymouth.co.uk 269,612, +38.1pc
    thisisscunthorpe.co.uk 83,194, +24.1pc
    thissouthwales.co.uk 196,703, +25.5pc
    thisisthesentinel.co.uk 311,775, +36pc

    Midland News Association

    These figures are period-on-period, not year-on-year.

    Midland News Association Network 701,294, +11.3pc

    expressandstar.com 503,435, +13.6pc
    shropshirestar.com 222,346, +6.1pc

    Trinity Mirror

    Trinity Mirror Regional Network 5,481,576, +12.5pc

    birminghammail.net 447,006, +42.6pc
    birminghampost.net 194,788, -3pc
    chroniclelive.co.uk 346,057, +18.3pc
    coventrytelegraph.net 368,459, +77.1pc
    dailypost.co.uk 170,151, +4pc

    gazettelive.co.uk 241,110, -11.8pc
    journallive.co.uk 225,298, +30.3pc
    liverpooldailypost.co.uk 307,215, -25pc
    liverpoolecho.co.uk 692,482, +26.6pc
    walesonline.co.uk 758,276, +3.3pc

    Comments

    Fence hopper (26/02/2010 16:06:14)
    These online ABCs would have more value if they weaved together extra details such as return visits etc. Anyone can create an audience – how many can keep one?