Mail on Sunday rises more than 5% after New Year relaunch

by Darren Davidson, Brand Republic 08-Feb-08, 12:40

LONDON - The Mail on Sunday's month-on-month circulation grew by 5.46% to 2,330,366 copies in January on the back of a relaunch and a Jean Michel Jarre CD promotion.

The paper, which has been divided into two main sections and now offers full-colour throughout, posted a six-month average decline of 0.68% year on year to 2,317,168 copies.

Another mid-market paper, the Sunday Express, experienced a 3.98% increase from December to 704,436 copies, while its six-month average fell by 10.05% year on year to 715,856 copies.

The News of the World, which generated widespread interest for an exclusive story alleging Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole had an extra-marital affair, reported a month-on-month rise of 3.07% to 3,264,676 copies. Its six-month average figure declined by 4.11% year on year to 3,318,165 copies.

Elsewhere in the red-top sector, the Sunday Mirror's month-on-month circulation was up by 3.93% to 1,366,922 copies.

The paper, which upped its cover price by 5p to 95p in January, saw its six-month average figure slip 0.90% year on year to 1,385,164 copies.

At the quality end of the market, The Sunday Times experienced a month-on-month boost of 7.23% to 1,231,374 copies. Its six-month average was down 6.15% year on year to 1,217,586 copies.

Its nearest rival, The Sunday Telegraph, was up 3.66% on a month-on-month basis to 633,639 copies, while its six-month figure declined by 3.42% year on year to 637,227 copies.

The Independent on Sunday, which gave away free DVDs of the film 'Land and Freedom', among a number of different readers offers, increased its month-on-month circulation by 19.31% to 236,500 copies. Its six-month figure dropped 5.48% year on year to 210,884 copies.

The Observer was up 3.62% on last month to 444,951 copies, while its six-month average was up by 0.64% year on year to 456,278 copies, meaning it was the only quality Sunday to increase its circulation over the last six months.