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NEW
DELHI: Despite comparatively low literacy figures, India has
emerged as the second-largest market for newspapers in the
world with a daily circulation of 88.9 million copies daily,
even as newspaper sales in the country increased 12.93 per
cent in 2006.
In fact,
a study by the World Association of Newspapers released here today showed that
there was a growth of 53.63 per cent in newspaper sales in the country in the
last five years. Newspaper
advertising revenues in India increased by 23.18 per cent over the last one year
and by 85 per cent over the last five years. The
new data, from WAN's annual survey of world press trends, was released to more
than 1600 publishers, editors and other senior newspaper executives from 109 countries
attending the 60th World Newspaper Congress and 14th World Editors Forum here.
The Forum, which runs concurrently with the Congress and Info Services Expo 2007,
is on the theme of "Quality Journalism in the Digital Age."
Even as global
newspaper circulation rose 2.3 per cent in 2006 and 9.48 per cent over the last
five years, the largest growth was seen in India and China in the paid-for newspaper
circulation which rose by 1.9 per cent over the 12 months and by 8.7 per cent
over five years to more than 510 million copies in 2006. But the global paid-for
circulation was up just 0.04 per cent excluding Asia where India and China topped
the growth figures. WAN
CEO Timothy Balding said sixty of the world’s 100 best selling dailies are
published in India, China and Japan, and seven of 10 best selling dailies are
now published in Asia. "The Facts About Newspapers, Not the Myths" report
is based on preliminary figures gathered by WAN from all the 232 countries and
territories where newspapers are published. "Newspapers
in developing markets continue to increase circulation by leaps and bounds, and
in mature markets are showing remarkable resilience against the onslaught of digital
media. Even in many developed nations the industry is maintaining or even increasing
sales," said Balding. The
five largest markets for newspapers are: China with 98.7 million copies sold daily;
India with 88.9 million copies; Japan with 69.1 million; the United States with
52.3 million; and Germany with 21.1 million. Seventeen
countries including India saw newspaper advertising market share growth in 2006.
The others were Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Greece, Indonesia,
Hong Kong, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United
Arab Emirates, and South Africa. "Hidden
in those figures is the fact that newspapers -- as the second largest advertising
medium to TV -- actually represent more than the combined advertising value of
radio, cinema, magazines and the internet," WAN President Gavin O'Reilly
who is the COO of Independent News & Media Ltd. said. Paid
circulation took global sales to a new high of more than 515 million daily. With
free dailies added, daily circulation increases to nearly 556 million, a 4.61
per cent increase from the total of paid and free dailies in 2005.
Circulation
sales rose everywhere except North America which saw a decline of 1.97 per cent.
They rose 3.61 per cent in Asia in 2006 over the previous year, 4.55 per cent
in South America, 0.74 per cent in Europe, 0.65 per cent in Africa, and 2.11 per
cent in Australia and Oceania. In fact, North America was the only continent to
show a decline in newspaper sales. The
number of paid-for newspaper titles increased everywhere except South America
where it was stable. The number of newspaper titles was up seven per cent in Asia,
1.3 per cent in Europe, 0.67 per cent in North America, 1.2 per cent in Africa
and 1.14 per cent in Australia and Oceania. The number of new paid-for titles
grew to more than 11,000 for the first time in history. Asia
recorded a 2.99 per cent growth, second-biggest after South America 's 4.59 per
cent. However, North America recorded a decline of 1.97 per cent in the paid-for
circulations in 2006. Asia also recorded the biggest rise of 6.13 per cent in
the number of paid-for titles, as against a total of 3.22 per cent globally and
declines in North and South Americas. The
Japanese remain the world's greatest newspaper buyers with 630.9 daily sales per
thousand adults, and the Belgians spend the most time with their newspapers 54
minutes a day. The
free daily newspaper circulation more than doubled over the five years to 40.8
million copies a day, while more than 1.4 billion people are now reading a newspaper
daily, the survey found. The
report shows that broadband penetration is not adversely impacting underlying
volumes of advertising and in the last 24 months, more new, innovative newspaper
products have been launched than over the prior 30 years. More than $6 billion
have been invested in newspaper printing and production equipment in the last
18 months. The
new “free” dailies have - in a short time - captured over 40 million
readers, particularly among the young and newspaper companies continue to invest
heavily in their business and their future. Adding
free newspapers, global circulation grew 4.3 per cent year-on-year, and the survey
showed more than 1.4 billion people now read a newspaper daily. Paid-for daily
titles surpassed 11,000 for the first time in history. Advertising
revenues rose 4 per cent in 12 months and 15.6 per cent over the past five years.
The print medium continues to be the biggest advertising medium in the world,
with a 42 per cent share. Newspapers alone are the second largest with 29.4 per
cent of global advertising spend. WAN,
the global organization for the newspaper industry, represents 18,000 newspapers;
its membership includes 76 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies
and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 12 news agencies and 10
regional and world-wide press groups. | 
