Categories: OLD Media Moves

FT says subscriptions grew 8 percent in 2017

The Financial Times reported an 8 percent increase in subscriptions during 2017 and now has more than 910,000 paid-for readers.

The FT is now a majority digital content business, with digital subscriptions up 10 percent to 714,000, representing more than three-quarters of the total paying audience.

“Despite the constant disruption in the media ecosystem, the Financial Times has had another strong year,” said chief executive officer John Ridding. “The demand for our quality, independent journalism has never been greater and this business performance underlines the dynamism of our global business and brand.”

The FT, which is owned by Nikkei, also reported that content revenues are almost two-thirds of total revenues, double the share of five years ago. Advertising remained “resilient,” with market share gains in most countries and most sectors.

Other developments in 2017 included double-digit growth in reader engagement with more personalized experiences via myFT and improved tools for journalists to tell stories.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.