Daily Newspaper Paid Circulation Data

2009 Daily Newspaper Paid Circulation Data

Canada’s daily paid circulation stood at 4.1 million copies on an average publishing day in 2009, and 26.9 million copies in an average week. There were 96 English and French paid-for dailies in Canada last year, two less than in 2008 and three less than in 2007.

The English language independent in Flin Flon, Manitoba, The Reminder, ceased publishing as a daily, but still publishes three days a week. Three dailies in Ontario (The Recorder and Times in Brockville, The Chatham Daily News and The Daily Observer in Pembroke) reduced their six-day publishing cycle to five days –Tuesday to Saturday. The Daily Graphic in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, reduced its distribution from five days to four days –Tuesday to Friday.

The 2009 Circulation data report calculates paid circulation levels based on ABC, CCAB or owner-provided data. CCAB currently provides paid averages based on a 12-month period ending December 31st. For those dailies measured by ABC, the paid averages of two six-month ABC Fas Fax reports were utilized for the periods ending March 31st and September 30th. (Prior to 2008, ABC and CCAB circulation data only reflected the 6-month periods ending March 31st.)

The following two methods of analysis were used:

• The average number of copies sold per publishing day (traditional method); and
• The total number of copies sold per week or customer cycle (neo-traditional method).

Papers audited by CCAB now provide 12-month averages ending December 31st. For those dailies audited by ABC, data from two 6-months Fas Fax reports, ending March 31st and September 30th, has been averaged to provide a 12-month picture.

Not covered in the body of this report are the 18 free daily newspapers currently distributed in Canada. This relatively new breed of free dailies came to Canada in 2000 and continues to successfully capture new, young readers. Six ownership groups publish most of these papers totaling almost 1.6 million copies daily. Torstar and Metro International SA jointly publish ‘Metro’ in Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Transcontinental publishes Montreal’s Métro together with Metro International SA. Quebecor publishes 24 Hours in Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, in addition to 24 Heures in Ottawa-Gatineau and Montreal.

Canwest's free dailies, Ottawa Rush Hour, Edmonton Rush Hour and Calgary Rush Hour have folded, in addition to its national free daily, Dose. The free papers published by Black Press in British Columbia are distributed two to three times a week and do not qualify as dailies.