The Sly Bailey-run news publisher’s digital income, during the 17 weeks to May 2, is down, even compared with 2009’s horrific corresponding period…
From today’s interim management statement: “Group digital revenues for the period on a like for like basis have fallen by eight percent driven by the impact of the wider economy on the more cyclical recruitment and property categories. However, excluding recruitment and property we continue to see growth in other digital revenues across both Regionals and Nationals.”
The publisher has a glut of jobs sites, plus sites for other categories of classifieds, which have been worst hit by the advertising downturn.
The results mean even the launches of advertising-centric MirrorFootball.co.uk and 3am.co.uk in the last year haven’t contributed to overall growth. We don’t know how well they’re doing individually.
Group-wide revenue is down five percent, ad income down five percent and circulation down six percent. In fact, ad declines accelerated to six percent year-on-year during March and April, which Trinity blames on the election run-up.