News.com.au has solidified its position as Australia’s most-read news website for two consecutive months, according to the latest Ipsos iris report for December. This marks a strong comeback after the site temporarily lost its top spot midway through last year, following the ABC’s renewed emphasis on hard news coverage.
The December rankings revealed a significant lead for news.com.au, with 250,000 more readers than the ABC. This growth follows a close contest in November when just 40,000 readers separated the two publications. The results cap off a year of fluctuating readership figures, with news.com.au reclaiming the lead in July and maintaining it into December, despite brief challenges from the ABC.
Ipsos Iris news publication rankings December 2024.
Pippa Leary, managing director and publisher of free news and lifestyle at News Corp, said: “Our network of trusted news and lifestyle sites has had an incredible year. News Corp Australia was the leading news and information publisher for 12 consecutive months, and through our highly engaged audiences, we delivered strong reach that drives real results for our clients.”
The ABC, which held the top ranking in September and October, has seen its success attributed to a refocused online news strategy. The shift came after ABC chairman Ita Buttrose criticised the organisation for prioritising lifestyle content over hard news. This recalibration helped the ABC briefly reclaim the top spot before being overtaken by news.com.au in November.
The ABC’s dominance during the pandemic, when it consistently ranked as the top news website for nearly three years, reflected its role as the nation’s trusted source for critical updates. However, the ongoing competition between these two major players underscores the dynamic nature of Australia’s online news landscape.