The Nightly hits 3.2 million users as digital-only news brand gains momentum

Seven West Media's digital news publication The Nightly continues to expand its reach, recording its highest-ever audience in May.

According to the latest Ipsos iris data, the national title attracted more than 3.2 million users, a 7% increase on the previous month.

The strong performance comes just over a year since The Nightly launched, with the brand showing significant traction across both audience scale and engagement, particularly among east coast readers and key advertising demographics.

Steady growth in audience and engagement

In addition to monthly user growth, The Nightly recorded more than eight million page views in May, a 17% lift on the previous month, while the average time spent per reader also climbed 20%.

Audience growth over the past 12 months has been particularly sharp.

Year-on-year, The Nightly has increased its total readership by 73%, positioning it as one of Australia's fastest-growing digital news titles.

According to the data, nearly one million users in New South Wales accessed the site in May, with 75% of the total national audience based along the east coast.

Almost half of The Nightly's audience falls into the 25–54 age bracket, with a 55% female skew, figures that are likely to attract attention from brand marketers seeking reach in premium, news-aware environments.

A digital-only model with a national footprint

Launched in March 2023, The Nightly is Seven West Media's first national digital-only newspaper. It was created as part of a broader strategy to expand the company’s digital news footprint beyond its traditional mastheads in Western Australia.

The brand has been positioned as a destination for national and international news, commentary, and analysis, built specifically for digital-first consumption. Its editorial approach focuses on clarity, directness, and accessible language, attributes that have reportedly helped the brand stand out in a crowded online news market.

Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore said the growth is "a testament to our no-nonsense editorial approach," adding that The Nightly delivers news that's "fast, direct and unfiltered."

Editor Sarah-Jane Tasker pointed to the publication’s Federal Election coverage as an example of its editorial ethos, "clear, concise and trustworthy reporting that cuts through the spin."

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