Regional publisher Newsquest has increased the cover prices of six of its Scottish newspapers, while also cutting terms for retailers, in a bid to save the titles from the “real possibility” of closure.
The changes, which will take effect this week, will lead to a 20p increase at the Ayr Advertiser, which will go from £1.15 to £1.35, while the price will change from £1.10 to £1.30 at both the Dumbarton Reporter and Irvine Times.
Both the Border Telegraph and Clydebank Post will experience 10p increases from £1 to £1.10, with the cost of the Barrhead News changing from £1.10 to £1.20.
In a statement issued to the NFRN, Newsquest said: “Unfortunately, we have been forced to review margins on six of our lowest-selling titles to ensure these continue publication.
“Just to give Fed members an idea of how these titles are performing and any potential impact on the trade – all but one of these titles are selling 500–600 copies per week collectively across our distribution areas, meaning we shouldn’t see much, if any, impact to retailers’ profits.
“Whilst we are never keen to cut terms on any title, these are true exceptions that we must address otherwise closure is a real possibility.
“As mentioned, we have maintained terms on all of our higher-selling daily titles as well as our larger weekly portfolio.”
The move has been made as part of a raft of cover price increases at Newsquest’s other Scottish titles, although margins will remain the same for newsagents selling them.
In Glasgow, the Monday to Friday editions of The Herald have gone up from £2 to £2.20, with its Saturday edition’s price moving from £2.40 to £2.60.
The Glasgow Times has had a 5p increase to 90p, while pro-Scottish independence daily The National is up 10p to £1.30.
The cover price of both The Herald on Sunday and The Sunday National will increase from £2.40 to £2.50 at the end of this week.
The price of the Greenock Telegraph, Newsquest’s other Scottish daily, has gone up from 75p to 80p.
The following increases will also take effect from this week at Newsquest’s other Scottish weeklies, where retailer terms will remain the same: Largs & Millport News from £1.10 to £1.15, Alloa Advertiser from £1.10 to £1.20, Ardrossan Herald from £1.10 to £1.20, Central Fife Times from £1 to £1.10, Cumnock Chronicle from £1.10 to £1.20, Dunfermline Press from £1.25 to £1.35, East Lothian Courier from £1.20 to £1.30, Helensburgh Advertiser from £1.15 to £1.25, and Musselburgh Courier from £1.20 to £1.30, and Peeblesshire News from £1 to £1.10.
