MEDIA MARKET DATA - World Association of Newspapers

has enjoyed skyrocketing sales of between 40 and 60 per cent since September 2005 after itsfounder Sondhi Limthongkul shifted the newspaper’s content to be more critical as part of hisanti-government campaign. The paper saw its daily circulation increase to 280,000 copies aday, compared to 180,000 copies two years ago. Thansetthakij is the most popular semiweeklybusiness paper, followed by Prachachart Thurakij. Matichon Weekender is the mostpopular weekly news analysis magazine, followed by Nation Weekender. Cleo remains themost popular magazine, the same as last year, followed by TV Pool, Or Sor Tor, Gossip Star,Spicy, Ku Sang Ku Som, Elle, FHM, Seventeen and Cosmopolitan. Although five of the top10 magazines are local editions of foreign magazines, some closed down last year after a oneyeartrial period. It is expected that this segment will grow by 10 to 15 per cent this year asoperators are likely to import more foreign magazines to Thailand. In 2005, Watcharapol Ltd,which publishes Thai Rath, had the most revenues of all publishing companies with Bt4.8billion– a rise of 12.4 per cent. Nation Multimedia Group (Plc), which publishes The Nation,logged revenue of Bt3 billion, a 9 per cent rise; Se-Education reported Bt2.8 billion, a 17.6per cent rise; Si Praya Printing (Daily News) reported Bt2.4 billion, a 13.9 per cent rise; PostPublishing logged Bt1.8 billion, a 24.1 per cent rise; Siam Sport Syndicate (Plc) reportedBt1.6 billion; and Amarim Printing and Publishing Lyd (Plc) logged Bt1.3 billion.http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/02/15/business/business_20000891.phpUnited KingdomThe Observer's Berliner relaunch has proved a resounding success as its sales soared by morethan a quarter from December, passing the half million mark to reach almost 550,000 copiesin the January newspaper ABC figures. The newspaper market powered back into life in theNew Year, with the tabloids energised by price cuts and promotions, and the quality marketshrugging off price rises. With every daily and Sunday title increasing circulation, the re-sizedObserver eclipsed The Guardian's earlier relaunch with a 25.95% sales increase to 542,075copies. Guardian Newspapers will be doubly cheered by seeing The Guardian up 3.74% to394,913, despite adding 10p to its cover price early in the month to take it to 70p. TheIndependent also increased its price to 70p, a rise of 5p, and still sold 258,387 copies, up3.27% on December. The Times did better, up 3.58% to 685,081, while The Daily Telegraphachieved a more modest rise of 2.19% to 917,043 copies. The Financial Times lagged with amere 0.52% increase to 441,840. However, the real gains came at the other end of the market,with the red-tops' collective sales up 5% to 6.32m. The Sun led, after a massive DVDgiveaway, with a 6.4% surge to 3.319m copies, while the less freebie-happy Daily Mirrornotched up 2.9% more copies at 1.728m. Richard Desmond's bold price cuts from 40p to 30phelped the Daily Star to grow 5.2% to 820,070, and the mid-market Daily Express by 6.1% to849,001. The Daily Mail's millionaire competition helped it put on 3.37% to reach 2.389m.In the quality Sunday market, The Independent on Sunday, which went compact in October,was The Observer's nearest rival. It put on a very healthy 10.21% to reach 241,414 copies,well above its figures during 2005. The other recently made-over title, The Sunday Telegraph,put on 6.3% to reach 682,739 copies, but this is a way off its post-relaunch November high of714,992. Under pressure, but still up, The Sunday Times managed the smallest increase, up3.34% to 1.357m. In the mid-market the Sunday Express and The Mail on Sunday managedneck-and-neck increases of 8%. The former sold 877,101 and the latter 2.405m. The DailyStar Sunday led the red-tops with a 14.87% rise to 439,067, but the News of the World put onmore than 200,000 copies with its expose of England football coach Sven-Goran Erikssonachieving a 7.98% increase to 3.789m. The Sunday Mirror trailed its rivals with a 4.01% riseto 1.574m, echoing its sister paper's comparatively subdued performance, and providing morefood for thought for investors hoping for Trinity Mirror to sell off its nationals.6