Fairfax grows online audiences, SMH #1 news destination

• Fairfax Media network reaches 11.1 million people in January 2016, up 5% year on year

Commenting on the January 2016 emma (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) survey period, Fairfax Media’s commercial and marketing services director for Australian Publishing Media, Tom Armstrong, said:

“The value and strength of Fairfax’s quality content and journalism in reaching and engaging with large-scale audiences is evidenced by January’s solid audience growth. Fairfax’s network of independent news, information and entertainment reached 11.1 million people, or 62% of Australians for the month, which is up 5% year on year.

"The Sydney Morning Herald strengthened its position as Australia’s number one news destination with a total audience of 5.3 million in January, reaching 1.2 million people more than its closest competitor. The SMH also posted a mobile and tablet audience increase of 16% year on year to reach 1.4 million people in January.

"The Age reached 3.2 million people across all platforms in January, with the mobile and tablet audience increasing 6% year on year.

"The Australian Financial Review continues its impressive audience growth, rising 15% year on year to reach a premium national audience of 1.5 million across all platforms. The AFR’s mobile and tablet audience was up 92% year on year, while afr.com desktop audience reach was up 41%.”

Key emma™ readership highlights (12 months to January 2016) include:

●       Fairfax Media Total Reach
○       11.1 million readership across platforms, up 5% year on year
○       6.3 million people read Fairfax print newspapers
○       7.1 million on desktop^
○       2.2 million on mobile or tablet news titles

●       The Sydney Morning Herald
○       5.3 million readership across all platforms, up 7% year on year
○       3.5 million on desktop
○       1.4 million on mobile or tablet, up 16% year on year

●       The Age
○       3.2 million readership across all platforms, up 3% year on year
○       1.8 million on desktop
○       950,000 on mobile or tablet, up 6% year on year

●       The Australian Financial Review
○       1.5 million readership across all platforms, up 15% year on year
○       506,000 on desktop, up 41% year on year
○       269,000 on mobile or tablet, up 92% year on year

●       The Canberra Times
○       911,000 readership across all platforms, up 25% year on year
○       633,000 on desktop
○       187,000 on mobile or tablet, up 28% year on year

Source: emmaTM (Enhanced Media Metrics Australia) conducted by Ipsos MediaCT, People 14+ for the 12 months to January 2016. Nielsen Online Ratings January 2016, People 14+. ^Nielsen Online Ratings, January 2016