Dow Jones & Co. reported first quarter earnings on Tuesday, and the release disclosed some interest numbers in relation to advertising and subscription growth at the online editions of The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s.
The release stated, “Advertising revenue at Dow Jones Online was up 30%, and international advertising revenue was up 9.6%, more than offsetting a 1.8% decline in advertising revenue (on a 3.1% decline in volume) at The Wall Street Journal U.S. print edition. Operating income grew to $7.6 million and margin improved 360 basis points to 2.7% from a loss in the prior-year period due to cost-saving initiatives and strong profit leverage on increased revenues at Dow Jones Online.
“Paid subscribers to the online Wall Street Journal grew 20.0% in the first quarter to 931,000 driven in part by the success of an offer for new subscribers to receive both the print and online Journal and the resultant change in our methodology to count those subscribers who have paid and registered to use the online Journal in both the current and prior periods.”
Later, the release noted that paid subscribers to Barron’s Online grew 49.2% in the first quarter to 88,000.
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