Digital revenues continue to bolster Post & Mail publisher

BIRMINGHAM Post and Mail publisher Trinity Mirror saw a 3% fall in group revenue for the first 17 weeks of the year, it said in an AGM statement today.

However, the group’s position was bolstered by a strong performance from its digital operation, which saw a 50% growth year-on-year.

The group also benefited from its contract publishing agreements with many of the Premier League’s football clubs.

In outlook, the company said revenue trends were showing month on month volatility but it was still showing continued momentum from its various strategic initiatives coupled with ongoing cost mitigation.

As such, it said it was confident its performance for 2014 was tracking in line with expectations.

Circulation revenue was down across the period but the company said the situation had been bolstered by cover price increases.

Advertising revenue trends showed a 9% decline in Publishing print but a 47% increase in Publishing digital and a 41% decline in specialist digital. A decline in specialist digital advertising was said to reflect the sale of the specialist property classified sites in 2013 and the restructure of the recruitment sites at the end of 2013.

A strong growth in its digital audience helped contribute to Publishing digital revenue growth of almost 50% during the period.