Readership of Kauppalehti continued to grow, circulation down due to cutbacks in group subscriptions

Alma Media Corporation  Press release 15 September 2009

 

READERSHIP OF KAUPPALEHTI CONTINUED TO GROW, CIRCULATION DOWN DUE TO CUTBACKS IN GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS

 

Finland’s leading business newspaper Kauppalehti, part of Alma Media Group, managed to further increase its readership in the first part of 2009. According to the latest National Media Survey by the Finnish Audit Bureau of Circulations, Kauppalehti’s new reader count is 230,000 (+7%) and Kauppalehti Optio’s 229,000 (+3%). The readership figures have continuously grown since 2007.

 

– What is happening in the economy and what consequences it has seems to interest more and more people. The renewal of Kauppalehti at the beginning of this year has also brought a lot of positive feedback and attracted new readers, says Hannu Leinonen, Executive Editor-in-Chief, Kauppalehti. The online service of Kauppalehti, kauppalehti.fi, has also had record numbers of readers in the first part of the year.

 

A number of measures have been undertaken to secure Kauppalehti Oy’s profitability in the tight economic situation. Part of this programme is cutting back on the free subscriptions to student organisations in autumn 2009 and spring 2010. This is why Kauppalehti’s audited circulation will drop significantly in the next audit, due in spring 2010. Readership numbers are not expected to change significantly due to this measure. Students are also not a major target group for the advertising in Kauppalehti.

 

– We have had a good cooperation with the Association of Students of Economics and Business Administration and the Association of BBA Students for years, and we are intent on continuing it in future, emphasises Juha-Petri Loimovuori, Managing Director, Kauppalehti Oy. The cooperation has been motivated by introducing Kauppalehti to future decision-makers, which has been successful. – In spring 2009 we conducted a readership survey among students and noticed that the cooperation needs to be changed. Many students were extremely committed Kauppalehti readers, while others hardly glanced at the paper they received. In future, we will deliver the paper to those who wish to receive it instead of all students.

 

More information:

Hannu Leinonen, Executive Editor-in-Chief, tel. +358 10 665 2392, hannu.leinonen@kauppalehti.fi
Juha-Petri Loimovuori, Managing Director, tel. +358 10 665 2360,
juha-petri.loimovuori@kauppalehti.fi

Alma Media in brief

 

Alma Media is a profitable and internationally expanding company that invests in the future of newspapers and online media. Its best known products are the Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com.

 

Net sales in 2008 totalled EUR 341 million and the operating margin was over 14%. The company’s share (ALN1V) is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange. Please visit www.almamedia.fi to learn more.