Daily Mail parent sees surge in ad revenues

London: The recovery at Daily Mail General Trust's national newspaper division has continued with total ad revenues up 13 per cent year-on-year in the three months to June 4 helped by an impressive 46 per cent surge in digital ad revenues.

DMGT, which owns the Daily Mail and about 100 regional titles, saw revenues at its consumer operation rise four per cent year-on-year on an underlying, or like-for-like, basis to £274 million (Dh1.57 billion).

Associated Newspapers, the national newspaper operation, saw overall revenues fall three per cent to £301 million. However in terms of advertising income underlying revenues at the division were up 13 per cent year-on-year.

Display advertising was up 15 per cent, digital advertising up 46 per cent while classified down three per cent. Retail, the largest display category, grew by 19 per cent. The company said that overall revenue from the division's "pure play digital activities" rose by 16 per cent.

Circulation revenues were up a fraction at 0.7 per cent due to the timing of Easter. Northcliffe Media, home to DMGT's regional newspaper operation in the UK and central Europe, saw total revenue fall by four per cent.

Advertising fell by four per cent year-on-year. Retail and recruitment advertising revenue were down six per cent year-on-year, however property revenues grew nine per cent.