Wemf circulation figures 2008: Sunday newspapers still have potential
WEMF has just published the annual circulation figures for the Swiss press. Perhaps the most surprising finding regarding non-daily publications is that, despite the addition of new titles, the market for Sunday publications does not yet appear to be saturated. Financial publications also saw growth, though at the expense of *Cash*, which was discontinued in the middle of last year.
On Wednesday, Wemf AG for Advertising Media Research published the annual circulation figures for Swiss print media. These figures cover the period from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, and are based on the principle of self-reporting. Perhaps the most striking result is the shift in the Sunday newspaper market. Although more Sunday newspapers and Sunday editions of daily newspapers are entering the market, among the existing Sunday papers, only the Sonntagsblick saw a decline in circulation. The market therefore does not yet appear to have reached saturation.
The NZZ am Sonntag increased its circulation by 4,000 copies, from 122,072 to 126,371. The Sonntagszeitung remained roughly the same at 202,141 copies, compared to 202,222 copies the previous year. The Sonntag, published by Wanner, entered the market with a provisional circulation of 190,107 copies. The Sonntagsblick suffered losses once again, though its circulation decline—from 265,478 to 262,188 copies—was less severe than it had been a year earlier. The decline was more significant for Le Matin Dimanche. The French-Swiss newspaper lost more than 8,000 copies and now stands at 202,030.
The ’Specialty Press’ segment is led by the trilingual publications of the two major retailers, Coop and Migros. As was the case last year, though not to the same extent, Coop’s publications saw a circulation increase of 26,000 copies, while the circulation of Migros Magazine fell by 24,000. The circulation of the TCS newspaper *Touring* also fell by 17,000 copies.
In the consumer press segment, *Schweizer Illustrierte* and *Tele* were among the titles that saw declines, each losing about 16,000 copies. Schweizer Familie saw an increase of about 3,000 copies. Circulation for Beobachter, Glückspost, Weltwoche, and WoZ remained roughly the same.
All of the financial publications saw an increase in circulation. The *Handelszeitung* saw the sharpest rise, from 30,861 to 45,190 copies. However, according to WEMF figures, the latest number is provisional. The reason for the increase in circulation was the discontinuation of the business newspaper Cash in mid-2007. Of the 43,000 Cash subscribers, approximately 27,000 switched to the Handelszeitung, about 5,000 chose the Bilanz, and 2,000 opted for the investor magazine Stocks.
Only minor changes, in the range of a few hundred copies, occurred among the top publications in the trade press sector. *Die Bauern-Zeitung*, which saw a slight decline, and *Der Schweizer Bauer*, which saw a slight increase of the same magnitude, are increasingly converging in circulation.
The NZZ am Sonntag increased its circulation by 4,000 copies, from 122,072 to 126,371. The Sonntagszeitung remained roughly the same at 202,141 copies, compared to 202,222 copies the previous year. The Sonntag, published by Wanner, entered the market with a provisional circulation of 190,107 copies. The Sonntagsblick suffered losses once again, though its circulation decline—from 265,478 to 262,188 copies—was less severe than it had been a year earlier. The decline was more significant for Le Matin Dimanche. The French-Swiss newspaper lost more than 8,000 copies and now stands at 202,030.
The ’Specialty Press’ segment is led by the trilingual publications of the two major retailers, Coop and Migros. As was the case last year, though not to the same extent, Coop’s publications saw a circulation increase of 26,000 copies, while the circulation of Migros Magazine fell by 24,000. The circulation of the TCS newspaper *Touring* also fell by 17,000 copies.
In the consumer press segment, *Schweizer Illustrierte* and *Tele* were among the titles that saw declines, each losing about 16,000 copies. Schweizer Familie saw an increase of about 3,000 copies. Circulation for Beobachter, Glückspost, Weltwoche, and WoZ remained roughly the same.
All of the financial publications saw an increase in circulation. The *Handelszeitung* saw the sharpest rise, from 30,861 to 45,190 copies. However, according to WEMF figures, the latest number is provisional. The reason for the increase in circulation was the discontinuation of the business newspaper Cash in mid-2007. Of the 43,000 Cash subscribers, approximately 27,000 switched to the Handelszeitung, about 5,000 chose the Bilanz, and 2,000 opted for the investor magazine Stocks.
Only minor changes, in the range of a few hundred copies, occurred among the top publications in the trade press sector. *Die Bauern-Zeitung*, which saw a slight decline, and *Der Schweizer Bauer*, which saw a slight increase of the same magnitude, are increasingly converging in circulation.
