Nine Publishing

TV.Cynic · May 20, 2024, 6:31am

The Sydney Morning Herald remains Australia’s No.1 most read masthead

The Sydney Morning Herald has once again cemented its position as Australia’s most read news brand, with a cross-platform readership of 7.27 million readers, according to the Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

With one in three Australian readers choosing the Herald to stay informed, the masthead nearly doubles The Daily Telegraph readership (7.27 million versus The Telegraph’s 3.94 million) in Total News, in the latest figures in the 12-month period ending March 2024.

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded an average issue readership of 383,000, while Saturday’s print edition recorded 485,000 readers. In the last four weeks, 1.56 million people on average have read a print edition of the Herald.

The Sun Herald print edition increased its annual readership, up by 1% year-on-year and is read by 426,000 people every Sunday.

Across the Herald and The Age, the country’s most prestigious food news brand, Good Food, recorded a Total News readership of 1.4 million, up 5.7% quarterly, while Traveller recorded quarterly growth of 3.9% with 1.15 million readers.

Good Weekend recorded an average issue print readership of 708,000, while Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 362,000 and Domain recorded readership of 489,000.

“The news cycle has been relentless in the first quarter of 2024, and the millions of readers who turn to our mastheads for quality and accuracy have shown their willingness to invest in premium journalism,” said Executive Editor Luke McIlveen.

“We’re delighted with the subscription growth across The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and we will continue to deliver the thoughtful, independent journalism our readers expect.”

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!*

The Age maintains its lead as Victoria’s most read masthead

The Age has once again maintained its lead as Victoria’s most read masthead, with a cross platform readership of 4.7 million, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

The Age has cemented its place as the nation’s second most read news brand after The Sydney Morning Herald and is ahead of its main competitor The Herald Sun by more than 720,000 people.

The Monday to Friday print edition recorded a readership of 251,000, while the Saturday edition has 403,000 print readers. In the last four weeks 1.050 million people on average have read a print edition of The Age.

Across The Age and the Herald, the country’s most prestigious food news brand, Good Food, recorded a Total News readership of 1.4 million, up 5.7% quarterly, while Traveller recorded quarterly growth of 3.9% with 1.15 million readers.

Good Weekend recorded an average issue print readership of 708,000, while Sunday Life recorded an average issue print readership of 362,000 and Domain recorded readership of 489,000.

“The news cycle has been relentless in the first quarter of 2024, and the millions of readers who turn to our mastheads for quality and accuracy have shown their willingness to invest in premium journalism,” said Executive Editor Luke McIlveen.

“We’re delighted with the subscription growth across The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and we will continue to deliver the thoughtful, independent journalism our readers expect.

The Age editor Patrick Elligett said: “Our focus on quality, high impact journalism that matters to Victorians is making a real difference to the lives of people in this state. Reader endorsement of our approach is evident in the subscription and engagement growth we are seeing each week.”

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!*

The Financial Review remains Australia’s most read premium business title

The Australian Financial Review is the country’s most read premium business masthead recording a cross platform readership of 3.5 million people, according to Total News readership figures released by Roy Morgan today.

With the masthead’s print & digital annual growth of 2% outpacing The Australian, which recorded falling readership over the year, 1.02 million people have read a print edition of the Financial Review in the past four weeks.

Highlighting the strength of the Financial Review’s digital offering, 77% of AFR readers engage with the masthead’s online publication, which has grown since last quarter.

The Monday to Friday print edition continued to record annual growth of 18% year-on-year, for an average issue readership of 262,000, while the AFR Weekend Saturday print edition has a readership of 179,000.

The Australian Financial Review Magazine continues to dominate Australia’s monthly magazine insert figures, with a print readership of 503,000 and annual growth of 5% – compared to its direct competitor Wish that has had a readership drop of -25% year on year.

Nine’s Total Publishing assets reach a de-duplicated audience of 16 million* Australians across print and digital.

The Financial Review’s Editor in Chief, Michael Stutchbury, said: “The Financial Review’s newsroom is particularly pleased with the success of our digital strategy, shown by four consecutive quarters of growth in our digital-only audience. With our digital-only audience growing by 2.4 per cent a year, the Financial Review has the biggest digital audience of any national newspaper brand.”

The Total News readership figures are produced by Roy Morgan for ThinkNewsBrands.

Source: Roy Morgan Research, All People 14+ for the 12 months ending March 2024. All audience data is based on the last 4 weeks averaged over the 12 months to March 2024. This figure includes: nine.com.au, SMH Print & Digital, The Age Print & Digital, AFR Print & Digital, Brisbane Times, WA Today, Domain Digital, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin! Print Platforms include: SMH Print, The Age Print, AFR Print, Good Weekend VIC & NSW, Sunday Life VIC & NSW, Domain NIM VIC & NSW, AFR Magazine, Fin!*

JohnsonTV · May 27, 2024, 1:12am

Following the conclusion of the Mining Summit, AFR editor in chief wrote an opinion piece on Friday, vowing to continue the paper’s coverage of WA. He said in the article:

…political and business leaders still urged the Financial Review to keep printing locally or to fly in copies from the east, in part to counter what they privately complain is (Kerry) Stokes’ unhealthy degree of media power.

JohnsonTV · May 29, 2024, 4:15am

Want to live your ultimate retirement? Get Super Fit with a new editorial series in Nine’s metro mastheads

With cost of living pressures and rising house prices, more than ever Australians are looking to secure their financial future by focusing on their superannuation.

Now, a new editorial series from the Money experts at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAtoday take readers step-by-step through how to create the strongest possible super balance.

The six-part Super Fit series – with launch partner Colonial First State – covers everything from planning how much you’ll need to retire comfortably, which funds to use, the best allocation at each age, how and when to make additional contributions and how to spend in retirement.

The specially-commissioned Super Fit stories appear in the Money section in the Wednesday editions of the Herald and The Age until June 26, and are also housed in a digital collection across the four masthead websites along with some other informative superannuation stories by prominent Money experts such as John Collett, Bec Wilson and Paul Benson.

For many people, their mandatory superannuation investment will be the largest asset they will have in their lifetime. On July 1 the rate that workplaces need to pay employees will increase to 11.5 per cent of their salary, rising to 12 per cent by July 2025.

For young workers embarking on their career through to people approaching retirement, it’s never too late to make sure your superannuation is as healthy as possible.

Super Fit features an interactive superannuation calculator which allows our curious audience to look to the future and see what their nest egg will look like in five, 10, 15, 20 years and beyond.

Money Editor Dominic Powell says: “Getting your super in top shape is one of the most crucial things you can do to ensure a comfortable retirement, yet it’s something many of us don’t think about until it’s too late. Small changes now – like switching funds or making an extra contribution – could mean thousands of extra dollars in your pocket later in life.

“If you’re someone who doesn’t know where to start, Super Fit will help you take the first steps on this journey, and answer any questions you have about the most important investment you’ll (probably) ever make.”

James McCluskie, Client Director Finance & Technology, says: “Growing wealth responsibly and prioritising financial wellbeing and stability are front of mind with our readership. Super Fit presents the perfect platform for our superannuation clients. Allowing them to position themselves as a relatable fund driving superior outcomes for their current and future members that align with our readership’s values.”

TV.Cynic · May 29, 2024, 10:03pm

FORTUNES OF AUSTRALIA’S RICHEST 200 PEOPLE
SURGE TO $625 BILLION AS GINA RINEHART TOPS
FINANCIAL REVIEW RICH LIST FOR FIFTH YEAR

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has topped the 2024 Financial Review Rich List for the fifth consecutive year, breaking through the $40 billion barrier for the first time – up $3 billion from last year.

With Australia’s wealthiest 200 now controlling $625 billion - up 11 per cent from last year - Rinehart’s estimated rise in wealth is driven by higher valuations across the mining sector. While mining and property are Rich List mainstays [five of the top 10 fortunes are built on mining], the tech sector has made a comeback this year and is growing its share of the pie faster than any other sector.

This year marks the 41st Rich List, first published in BRW Magazine in 1983 when the total worth of Australia’s wealthiest people was $4.6 billion and it took just $10 million to make the list. It now takes $718 million to make the Rich List.

Rinehart’s wealth is $14 billion more than her closest rival - property scion Harry Triguboff, who is worth an estimated $26.49 billion.

But it is the tech sector that is the story of 2024, with the sector responsible for $108.1 billion of this year’s list. In 2014, there were no technologists in the Rich List’s Top 10. Now, there are four: Mike Cannon-Brookes (who’s listed in third spot alongside Annie Cannon-Brookes in light of their separation, although their wealth of $24.38 billion is still combined as they are yet to split assets), Scott Farquhar (No.5 worth $22.88 billion) and Canva’s Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht (No.10 worth $13.62 billion).

In total, 28 technologists have made the Rich List, up from 24 last year - including fintech entrepreneur Jack Zhang and crypto gambling billionaires Ed Craven and Tim Heath. The tech sector is also responsible for some of the notable debutants. They include three newly discovered billionaires - Estonian-based online gaming mogul Tim Heath, the founder of CoinSpot cryptocurrency exchange, Russell Wilson, and the Lamborghini-loving founder of the LMCT+ online promotions business, Adrian Portelli.

All up, there are 11 new individuals or couples on this year’s Rich List including Simon Dyer and his family, who brought mattress brand Sealy to Australia, and today also have a range of joint ventures with New York Stock Exchange-listed Tempur Sealy. Also making the list for the first time is Queensland’sMurphy family, whose Canstruct earned $1.82 billion over five years as the long-term operator of the federal government’s offshore detention centre in Nauru.

Based on the Financial Review’s unrivalled database, the Rich List includes 13 billionaires in the elite “ten-digit club” – those with wealth exceeding $10 billion. Some Rich Listers have seen their wealth surge, including media, mining and construction baron Kerry Stokes (No.12) whose net worth increased 51 per cent year-on-year to $11.3 billion, and Alan Wilson & family (No.13) from plumbing giant Reece, whose wealth rose 63 per cent to $10.6 billion. NSW remains home to more Rich Listers - 80 in total - than any other state.

Female representation has increased from 36 last year to 41 this year. Some of that is due to the spectacular rise of entrepreneurs like Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, worth a combined $792 million (No.180).

Rich List co-editor Yolanda Redrup said: “The Rich List named its first two billionaires in 1987 - Robert Holmes a Court ($1.4 billion) and Kerry Packer ($1.3 billion) - now, there are 150 Australians and their families who have achieved this feat. This highlights the entrepreneurial spirit and hard work of the members of this list.

“There are nine Rich Listers who have appeared on every list since 1984, and many are household names, but the next decade could be one of changing faces, as the mean age nears 70 and billions of dollars are set to be passed onto the next generation.”

Rich List co-editor Michael Bailey said new financial reporting rules introduced by the federal government last year made this the most comprehensive Rich List ever.

“Major private companies previously exempt from publicly lodging financial reports, like Bruce Gordon’s WIN Television, ‘Caravan King’ Gerry Ryan’s Jayco, and ethanol giant Dick Honan’s Manildra, all had to reveal their profits for the first time - in some cases materially changing their estimated valuations.”

TOP 10 (worth a collective $222.6 billion)

Gina Rinehart – $40.61 billion – Mining
Harry Triguboff - $26.49 billion - Property
Mike Cannon-Brookes & Annie Cannon-Brookes - $24.38 billion - Technology
Anthony Pratt & family – $23.30 billion – Manufacturing
Scott Farquhar - $22.88 billion - Technology
Clive Palmer – $22.75 billion – Mining
Nicola Forrest - $16.92 billion - Mining
Andrew Forrest - $16.76 billion - Mining
Ivan Glasenberg – $14.86 billion – Mining
Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht – $13.62 billion – Technology

STATE BY NUMBERS

NSW – 80 Rich Listers
VIC – 57
QLD – 21
WA – 19
SA – 3
ACT – 2
NT – 1
TAS – 1

The full Rich List will be available on www.afr.com and will appear in a special edition of The Australian Financial Review Magazine in this Friday’s Financial Review.

JohnsonTV · June 12, 2024, 10:29pm

TV.Cynic · June 20, 2024, 12:27am

“So that we can keep bringing you the best news and opinion in the country, your subscription price will increase to $43.20 per month from your next invoice ,” reads an email to a subscriber with a digital subscription, which includes delivery of the two weekend Herald papers

JohnsonTV · June 20, 2024, 12:52am

When questioned on the reasons for such a big increase, a representative from the Herald cites a litany of woes: increasing costs in delivering journalism, salaries, technological infrastructure costs, and logistical expenses of printing and distributing physical newspapers, all of which have increased at a rate higher than general inflation.

Given SMH is printed at News Corp’s plant at Chullora in Sydney’s west, News Corp will have the same issue of increases in cost of printing and distribution of physical newspapers. I won’t be surprised if subscription price of The Daily Telegraph goes up next.

TV.Cynic · June 21, 2024, 2:12am

Ariarne Titmus opens up about chasing Olympic glory in a special edition of Good Weekend

Swimming superstar Ariarne Titmus opens up about what is driving her to achieve Olympic glory in Paris, in a special edition of Good Weekend published this Saturday, June 22.

One of the races of Paris 2024 is expected to be the women’s 400 metres freestyle final – held on day one of the Games. In it, if all goes to plan, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus will face up against arguably the greatest swimmer of all time, America’s Katie Ledecky. Canadian teen sensation Summer McIntosh is expected to be there on the starting blocks, too.

Dubbed ‘the race of the Century’, it will be one of the highlights of the Games for Australian audiences. With just 35 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the special edition of Good Weekend features Amanda Hooton profiling Titmus, who began her swimming life in the state with perhaps the least pools in the country, Tasmania, and was initially far from the best in her swim class – but is now one of the greatest swimmers this country has produced.

Elsewhere in this special edition, Konrad Marshall explores Australia’s sudden rise in middle-distance running talent, Chip Le Grand looks at why the Olympics in Paris are being called the “light-touch” Games – the first city in which the Games have been made to fit the city rather than the other way around. Luke Benedictus, Michael Gleeson and Tom Decent also take a deep dive into innovations in timekeeping, shoes and swimwear.

As well, Jane Cadzow talks to Paralympian Vanessa Low and her coach/husband, former Paralympian gold medallist Scott Reardon, and Benjamin Law rolls the Dicey Topics die with pole vaulting medal chance Nina Kennedy.

“Getting inside the head of elite athletes is not always easy, but Amanda Hooton makes it look that way with her insightful profile of one of the most exciting athletes going to the Games,” says Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.

“As soon as I heard that Nine was the broadcast partner for Paris 2024, I knew we had to bring the best longform journalists in the country to the job of telling this story.”

Good Weekend is published as part of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age every Saturday, and online at smh.com.au, theage.com.au, brisbanetimes.com.au and watoday.com.au.

Good Weekend special edition published Saturday, June 22. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will run from July 26 to August 11 and will be broadcast on the 9Network and 9Now, and ad-free on Stan Sport.

crankymedia · June 23, 2024, 4:36pm

Absolutely guaranteed to be a huge yawn for an event fast losing relevance. A feature as a self advertorial, not good at all. Can’t blame it on Costello now.

95% of the Nine Publishing leadership should be shown the door and find true leaders to give the division lasting direction to assure its viability.

JohnsonTV · June 23, 2024, 11:46pm

foxyrover · June 24, 2024, 12:03am

Yeah it is still associated. You see it quite often referenced as “the Fairfax papers”.

foxyrover · June 24, 2024, 12:03am

What the Olympics?

crankymedia · June 24, 2024, 5:46am

Yes. Olympics advertorial dressed as feature in their supposed premium magazine.

bacco007 · June 24, 2024, 7:31am

now the heir of the Fairfax Media brand is telling News Corp mastheads he’s glad the family name is no longer associated with the “tarnished”…

The same family who when they regained control in the early 90s plummeted the empire into administration in the space of about 36 months?

JohnsonTV · June 25, 2024, 5:07am

JohnsonTV · June 26, 2024, 12:09am

Australia’s strongest team of journalists assembled to cover the Olympics Games Paris 2024

With just one month to go until the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024, Nine today announces its strongest team of journalists ever sent to an Olympic Games.

Featuring a team that has covered a combined 29 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and an astounding 60 major awards between them, the strength of Australia’s most respected news brands – The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAtoday – will ensure Paris 2024 will be covered like no previous Olympic Games.

Leveraging the 9Network’s television coverage as the official broadcaster of the Olympic Games, the mastheads’ digital sites will feature Olympics footage and live streams unavailable to other publishers.

A special Paris 2024 hub will be available across the digital sites and apps, giving readers access to the full range of Olympics data, including a live medal tally plus searchable competition schedules and results.

The hub will feature round-the-clock coverage, including a daily blog, world-class visual storytelling and unique insights into what many are expecting to be one of the most visually spectacular Olympic Games to ever be held.

The team of 18 includes the Herald and Age chief reporters Jordan Baker and Chip Le Grand, Europe Correspondent Rob Harris, Sport Editors Chloe Saltau and Ian Fuge, and Eddie Jim, the reigning Walkley Award-winning portrait photographer of the year.

The full list includes Ian Fuge (Editor); Chloe Saltau (Editor); Megan Levy (Digital Producer); Eddie Jim (Photographer); Rob Harris (News, general sport, cycling); Jordan Baker (News, rowing, canoeing); Marta Pascual Juanola (News, general sport); Konrad Marshall (sport colour); Michael Gleeson (Athletics); Chip Le Grand (Swimming, sport politics); Greg Baum (Sport colour); Emma Kemp (Swimming, football); Tom Decent (Swimming, athletics); Andrew Webster (Sports columnist); Michael Chammas (General sport, rugby sevens, basketball); Chris Paine (Head of Premium Content).

In addition to the sports coverage, they’ll bring you all the colour from the streets of Paris and the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. Subscribers can also immerse themselves in incisive, colourful and thought-provoking analysis on the stories of the day.

“We have assembled the most trusted and accomplished team of journalists in the country to produce unrivalled stories and pictures from Paris,” said Luke McIlveen, Executive Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAtoday.

“The likes of Greg Baum, Andrew Webster, Emma Kemp, Jordan Baker, Michael Gleeson and Michael Chammas will deliver in-depth coverage and breaking news to our millions of readers online and in print in a way that hasn’t been seen before. The team is excited to hit the ground running in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.”

Joining the metro masthead contingent will be stablemate The Australian Financial Review, who will be sending Zoe Samios, Business of Sport Correspondent, and Europe Correspondent Hans van Leeuwen.

cmo · June 26, 2024, 10:28am

Never before had we had games Coverage from the publishing arm of the rights holder at the level the Nine papers will provide. The way 9 are leveraging the rights is unprecedented.

Seven don’t count because they had ownership just of one newspaper in WA.

JohnsonTV · June 28, 2024, 2:08am

As mentioned in Nine Entertainment Co thread, CEO Mike Sneesby notified staff of a new round of job cuts this morning. Mumbrella reports up to 90 jobs could be axed from the publishing division.

It will be interesting to see how news coverage in the AFR, SMH and The Age, will be affected.

TV.Cynic · July 15, 2024, 10:53pm

crankymedia · July 18, 2024, 9:52pm

All very left and other problems by their backgrounds. When will Nine learn to steer the SMH back to audience of more centrist, affluent readers when it performed much better prior to the Fairfax management disaster of 2006/7 onwards?