Observer continues to shine in Sunday market

by Staff, Brand Republic 07-Mar-08, 12:30

LONDON - The Observer remains a consistent bright spot as it is almost the sole Sunday newspaper to make any significant gains in the February ABC figures as its circulation rose 4.28% for the month.

The paper, which was the only quality to see a rise, saw its circulation move ahead to 464,005 up 1.34% year on year.

It's difficult to pin point which rivals are suffering for its gains, but the Independent on Sunday fell 3.59% to 228,012 a fall of 5.81 for the year.

The Sunday Times also continues to lose readers dropping 2.04% in February to 1,206,247 down 4.6% year on year.

The Sunday Telegraph was down 0.07 to 633,193 down 3.92% year on year.

In the mid market the Mail on Sunday was the biggest faller, not including Scottish papers, as it dropped 5.44% to 2,203,642 in February and is down 1.26% for the year.

Not far behind was the Sunday Express, which hit a new low as it lost 4.01%, dropping to 676,165 for the month and down a whopping 12.04% for the year.

In the red top market the only paper to make it into the black for February was the News of the World. It was up 0.51% to 3,281,287 although is still down 3.64% year on year.

The Sunday Mirror lost 1.36%, 1,348,395 for the month, but it is down just 0.78% for the year. Trinity Mirror stablemate The People continues to languish unloved losing 2.31% to 653,909. Its yearly drop is a depressing 11.88%. Renewed speculation about that title being sold can not be far away.

The Daily Star on Sunday lost 4.12% dropping to 366,523, still up 8.41% on the year.

And what of the Sunday Sport? With talk of a relaunch as a tabloid for blokes the latest ABC figures only underline the air of urgency about the task. Its circulation fell 1.53% to 85,974 down 13.5%.