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September ABCs: Every Sunday paper down year on year

By Paul McNally

The Daily Star Sunday was the worst casualty last month in a national Sunday newspaper market that recorded year-on-year circulations across the board.

The red-top’s average weekly circulation in September fell 21.3 per cent year on year according to new figures released today by ABC. Its headline circulation of 382,251 was also down 5.3 per cent compared with August.

The Sunday Sport has lost 15.3 per cent of its circulation in the past year, down to 77,316 – but recorded a 1.8 per cent month-on-month gain compared with August.

The Sunday Mirror also rose slightly in September, up 0.3 per cent to 1.32m but down 9.4 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

The People continued to report a double-digit year-on-year circulation decline, down 13.4 per cent to 625,580 – a monthly fall of 3.7 per cent.

The News of the World fell 5.9 per cent year on year to 3,242,085.

Mid-markets

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Both of the mid-market Sunday papers improved their circulation compared with August – with the Sunday Express up 0.05 per cent to 655,380 and the Mail on Sunday rising 2.8 per cent to 2,239,071.

But both titles fell year on year. The Express was down 9.9 per cent and the Mail 4.7 per cent.

Qualities

In the quality market, both the Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Times outperformed their August circulation figures.

The Sunday Telegraph was up 0.5 per cent to 621,660 – an annual drop of 3.6 per cent. The Sunday Times rose 5.6 per cent, rising back above the 1.2m mark at 1.22m but down 1.8 per cent year on year.

The Independent on Sunday lost 7.2 per cent of its circulation in September, down to 182,511, representing a year-on-year decline of 14.5 per cent.

Its rival, The Observer, put on an extra 10.2 per cent in circulation month on month, but was still down 4.1 per cent year on year to 453,071.

National Sunday newspaper circulation figures for September
(all percentage falls are year-on-year)

Qualities
Independent on Sunday – 182,511 – down 14.54 per cent
The Observer – 453,071 – down 4.06 per cent
Sunday Telegraph – 621,660 – down 3.59 per cent
The Sunday Times – 1,221,493 – down 1.83 per cent

Mid-market
Sunday Express – 655,380 – down 9.91 per cent
The Mail on Sunday – 2,239,071 – down 4.68 per cent

Red-tops
Daily Star Sunday – 382,251 – down 21.25 per cent
News of the World – 3,242,085 – down 5.93 per cent
Sunday Mirror – 1,315,906 – down 9.37 per cent
The People – 625,580 – down 13.37 per cent
Sunday Sport – 78,696 – down 15.3 per cent

Read our report on the dailies

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