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News-Tribune adds free Sunday paper to weekday subscriptions
Date: 12/18/2003
by Don Jacobson
The Duluth News Tribune, whose circulation figures are holding steady despite the region's tough economic times, is trying something new. The newspaper is now distributing its Sunday paper as a free add-on for Monday-through-Saturday subscribers.
Ken Browall, circulation and operations director, announced the Oct. 12 change in a letter to subscribers. The letter said the Monday-Saturday subscription level was no longer available, adding business subscribers closed on Sunday can have that day's paper delivered on Monday.
News Tribune home delivery rates were listed at $3.48 per week for seven-day service, and $2.16 per week for Monday-through-Saturday service. Sunday-only service remains at $1.50, the news stand price.
Browall wouldn't comment further, saying circulation strategies and the underlying reasons are closely held competitive secrets.
But he did say that the newspaper's latest audited circulation figures, released in March, were encouraging.
The Knight-Ridder newspaper's March 2002 paid circulation came in at 46,056 for the daily newspaper and 69,507 on Sunday. A year later, the figures were 46,160 for daily and 69,369 for Sunday.
"They were basically flat, which is better than most in the industry," he said. "Considering that, we've done pretty well."
Overall, the newspaper industry saw a very modest circulation increase in the six months ending Sept. 30. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, average daily circulation of the country's newspapers was up 0.2 percent from the year-earlier period.
The Minneapolis-based Star Tribune newspaper's circulation rose 0.5 percent during the period to 380,354 daily and 677,929 Sunday. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's circulation rose 0.85 percent to 244,285 daily and 437,577 Sunday.
