Ireland on Sunday circulation doubles since 2001

IRELAND ON SUNDAY is seeing increasing revenues on the back of strong circulation gains, according to its parent company Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT).

It said the tabloid, which it bought two years ago, has "consolidated its substantial circulation gains of earlier in the year, and is now seeing increased advertising revenues as a result".

Although it did not publish profits or revenues for Ireland on Sunday, the paper is expected to remain loss-making for another couple of years because of the investment in its re-launch. Ireland on Sunday has doubled its circulation since it was acquired by Associated Newspapers the national newspaper division of DMGT two years ago when IoS had average weekly sales of around 81,000.

It is now sells in excess of 175,000 on a regular basis and, according to the latest National Newspapers of Ireland figures, its average circulation is 168,000 copies, making it one of the few papers to show growth.

In addition to Ireland on Sunday, DMGT also owns the Buy & Sell guide here. Overall, DMGT reported a slight increase in pre-tax profits for the year to the end of September despiteeven with a drop in turnover.

The London-based company, which owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard and hundreds of local papers, said profit had risen 2% to £185 million, while turnover dropped 1% to £1.93 billion as advertising revenues in Britain remained weak at its national titles.

"The new financial year has begun well. The circulations of our national titles are strong and newsprint prices appear stable at current levels. National advertising is satisfactory, up 1.7% in October, although it remains too early to call the turn in this market," the company said in a statement.