Revenues were down in most of Gannett’s segments in the third quarter of 2013, according to the company’s new earnings report.
Advertising revenue at Gannett’s publishing properties fell 5.9 percent compared with the same period the year before. Circulation revenue was a little less than flat, down 0.6 percent from the third quarter of 2012. And broadcasting revenue was down 14.2 percent, a dip the company says “reflects the absence of Olympic and political spending partially offset by significant growth in retransmission revenue and digital revenue growth of 20.7 percent.” Retransmission revenue is what cable operations pay local TV stations to carry their programs.
Revenue from the company’s digital operations overall was up 12 percent. The company attributes that to the “continued impact of the All Access Content Subscription Model in addition to higher digital advertising and digital marketing services revenue.”
All Gannett’s U.S. newspapers except USA Today have paywalls in place. Digital revenues at Gannett’s publishing properties were up nearly 21 percent in the third quarter, “reflecting growth associated with the All Access Content Subscription Model as well as digital advertising and marketing solutions.”
USA Today has been exploring the idea of a paywall, but “No plan exists” for one, its president, Larry Kramer, told Poynter last month.
Year-to-date, publishing advertising revenue is down 5.4 percent, circulation revenue is up 4.6 percent, broadcasting revenue is down about 2 percent and digital revenue is up 4 percent over the first 39 weeks of 2012.
