In a market where publishers have changed
their operating model, KM Group has maintained a firm and
consistent belief in high-quality, paid-for newspapers, as well as
mass-market coverage through free newspapers and other news and
information services, notably online and radio.
The latest ABC figures (Jul – Dec 2009)
confirm KM Group’s leading position in Kent, circulating 38% more
newspapers than the combined audited circulation of all of its
competitors in its publishing area.
In terms of paid newspapers, KM Group’s latest
figures show 117,579 copies sold weekly (41% more copies than any
other publisher) including the flagship Kent Messenger title, which
retains its position as the largest weekday-selling weekly
newspaper in the UK.
KM Group’s total free newspaper distribution
is 274,904 copies per week (more than double any other group in its
publishing area) mainly delivered direct to home, but with
availability enhanced through ABC-audited copies in selected
high-footfall locations.
All KM Group newspapers are available online,
although most digital traffic is generated via KentOnline, the only
ABCe-audited site for Kent, with 231,064 unique browsers
monthly.*
Unlike the traditional publishers, KM Group
also complements its newspaper and online services with 8
Kent-based radio stations, which deliver 164,000 listeners per
week.**
Key Data from ABC (July-December
2009)
Canterbury and
surrounding areas:
KM Group's Kentish Gazette series is the
flagship paid for title for Canterbury and surrounding area selling
nearly 20,000 copies each week.
Faversham News and the Herne Bay Gazette are
the favourite paid for newspapers in their markets.
KM Group's free Canterbury Extra distributed
11% more copies weekly than the combined free and paid circulation
of its nearest competitor.
In the overall Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne
Bay and Faversham market the KM Group distributed 59% more
newspapers weekly than its nearest competitor.
South East Kent
KM Group's Kentish Express remains the
flagship paid newspaper for Ashford and surrounding areas selling
over 18,300 copies weekly and is the only paid for title dedicated
to this market.
KM Group's Folkestone and Ashford Extra
distributes more than twice as many copies than its competitor's
free /paid title.
The East Kent Mercury (Series) sells 43% more
copies than any other title in the Deal and Dover area.
In the whole South East Kent market, the KM
Group circulates 77% more newspapers weekly and 59% more
actively-purchased copies than its nearest competitor.
Medway
KM Group has 11% more free newspapers in the
market. Medway Messenger (Monday) sells more than twice as many as
any other publisher's paid newspaper.
KM Group's Medway Extra distributes more
copies than the combined free and paid circulation of its nearest
competitor.
Thanet
In the latest audit period, KM Group's Thanet
Extra’s weekly distribution was 22% higher than the reported
combined paid and free circulation of its main competitor.
Maidstone
Kent Messenger (Series) remains the largest
weekday-selling weekly newspaper in the U.K.
42,873 copies of Kent Messenger (Series) are
circulated each week, making it the highest selling weekly
newspaper for Kent.
Maidstone Extra is the only audited free
newspaper for the Maidstone area distributing more than 32,000
copies every week.
Gravesend and Dartford
KM Group is the leading publisher both of paid
and free newspapers for Dartford and Gravesend with 31% more copies
circulating weekly than its nearest competitor.
KM Group's free Messenger Extra distributes
nearly 10,000 more copies than its nearest competitor.
KM Group's Gravesend and Dartford Messenger
series sells 45% more copies each week than the only other paid-for
newspaper in this market.
Gravesend and Dartford Messenger has won three
awards in the past year, including South East weekly newspaper of
the year.
Swale
Actively purchased copies of Sheerness Times
Guardian have increased in the last six months. KM Group has
48% more copies weekly in the marketplace.
Notes:
All press data sourced: ABC (Jul – Dec 2009)
unless otherwise stated
ABC certificates for KM Group titles can
be accessed online: http://bit.ly/9Fy6fZ
* ABCe
(Jul – Dec 2009)
** kmfm -
RAJAR (Quarter 4 2009)
(Feb 26, 2009)