Nine Publishing has told retailers selling its metro daily newspapers that the prices of the print products are increasing.
The move comes just weeks after News Corp lifted the prices of its metro dailies and its national daily The Australian.
The two publishers share print facilities around Australia and face similar pricing pressures.
The head of newsagent industry body newsXpress, Mark Fletcher, has reminded colleagues in the trade about how little they are making from the sale of newspapers.
A breakdown of the wholesale pricing of Nine newspapers for retailers
“At 10% (or less) gross profit per title, we need to wonder about the value of stocking these products,” said Fletcher.
“They are loss-making in all but the newsagencies doing the biggest sales. We have to sell 10 copies of a paper to cover the cost of one being stolen and, yes, newspaper theft in newsagencies is a problem.
“Years ago we would make 25% of the cover price. Today, as this table shows, we are at 10% or less.
“Just as newspaper publishers are managing their businesses for the ultimate exit from the print medium, so must newsagents. Smart newsagents have been working toward this inevitable day for many years.”
Newspaper print prices
At Nine Publishing at present, The AFR Weekend costs $5.50. The weekday Australian Financial Review is $5.00. There is no indication yet that the business daily will be changing its prices.
The price rises at the Nine metro dailies means The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age will lift from $4.40 to $4.80 on weekdays, and from $5.40 to $5.80 on Saturdays.
The Sunday newspapers The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age will increase from $4.40 to $4.80.
Subscription pricing
There has also been a recent price rise for digital packages. For The Sydney Morning Herald, discounted digital pricing starts at just $2 a week and rises to $12.50 a week for seven days of the printed paper and full digital access. The full price for this “Ultimate Everyday” package is $25 weekly.
The summary of digital pricing is as follows:
Standard digital packages increased from $4.50 per week to $5 per week.
Premium digital packages increased from $6.70 per week to $7.20 per week.
Weekend packages, which includes weekend print delivery and full premium digital access across web and app, increased from $8.50 per week to $10 per week.
Weekend package subscribers receive home delivery of Saturday and Sunday newspapers for an additional $2.80 per week on the premium digital package price.
For comparison, newsstand prices of the Saturday and Sunday newspapers of The Age and SMH are $9.80 per week.
See also: As birthday celebrations finish, The Australian lifts prices of print products