Weekly NDM Story ..

Mail Online fuels DMGT ad revenue rise

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/feb/05/mail-online-dmgt-ad-revenue-daily-mail

Mail Online's ad revenues increased by almost 50% to £14m in the final three months of last year, more than offsetting a fall in print advertising to keep the Daily Mail titles in growth. Parent company Daily Mail & General Trust said that underlying advertising revenues across the Daily Mail's print and online operation grew by a healthy 5% in the three months to the end of December. Mail Online, which is gearing up to switch to a global web domain to further drive advertising revenue growth, reported 48% revenue growth to £14m in the quarter. The company said that this exceeded the £1m decline in print advertising revenues, which fell to £53m, at the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday across the quarter.

• Circulation revenues fell 2% on an underlying basis, with the company saying that the sales decline was partially offset by a cover price increase last year.
• DMG Media, the umbrella division which houses the Mail business as well as Metro and daily deals service Wowcher, reported totalunderlying revenues up 2% year on year to £201m.
• DMGT said that the division's total underlying ad revenues are up 6% year on year in the five weeks since 29 December. 
• Overall, DMGT reported total underlying revenues up 6% in the final quarter to £472m, fuelled by a solid performance from its business-to-business operations. 
• DMGT's share price rose 4.5%, 43p, to £1.01p in trading as investors were encouraged by the update.
• DMGT's share price rose 4.5%, 43p, to £1.01p in trading as investors were buoyed by the update.

Analysts were particularly buoyed by confirmation from DMGT that it is looking at "strategic options" for Zoopla Property Group, a competitor to Rightmove, which could include a sale or flotation. Analysts were particularly buoyed by confirmation from DMGT that it is looking at "strategic options" for Zoopla Property Group, a competitor to Rightmove, which could include a sale or flotation. DMGT is a 52.6% shareholder in ZPG, which analysts at Investec value at £460m.