Mobile Menu

Newspaper Publishing in Australia - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Mia Jeremic Mia Jeremic Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: September 2025 ANZSIC J5411

Revenue

$2.9bn

2025-26

$2.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

10,248

Businesses

274

Wages

$X.Xbn

Newspaper Publishing in Australia industry analysis

Newspaper publishers in Australia continue to adapt to a media landscape dominated by scrolling rather than page-turning. Print circulation faces ongoing structural decline, reducing the attractiveness of traditional advertising for media agencies and businesses. While most publishers maintain an online presence, digital advertising yields lower returns than print and revenue is constrained as advertisers’ spending shifts towards video and social media channels. Overall, industry revenue is set to contract at an annualised 5.2% over the five years through to 2025-26 to $2.8 billion, including a 6.8% slump in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Print newspapers in Australia are facing a steep structural decline. Publishers are increasingly relying on digital subscriptions and government support to offset print losses, but remain vulnerable to shifts in policy and platform funding.
  • Print advertising revenue continues to decline rapidly as advertisers shift to digital channels. Publishers are compensating with subscription models, but falling print readership is challenging the long-term sustainability of traditional advertising revenue.
  • Australian newspaper publishers are concentrated in metropolitan markets with high population density and advertising value. Urban centres deliver more profitable audiences, with advertisers favouring their higher incomes and spending potential.
  • Newspapers face intense competition from digital news, social media and AI which offer personalised services. This has significantly disrupted traditional readership and advertising models.
Show more

Get more expert insights that help you cut through the noise.

Get fast answers to complex questions about your business or your client’s industry. Annual memberships include unlimited access to data and analysis for thousands of industries globally.

Get in Touch

Unlock Expert Insights with Full Platform Access

  • Human Driven & Verified Analysis
  • Structured Database Powering Workflows
  • Intelligent Tools Empowering Confident Decisions
  • Insight where-and how- you need them

How you can access insights on the Newspaper Publishing in Australia industry

The Newspaper Publishing in Australia Industry Report is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

IBISWorld Platform

Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.

Screen of the IBISWorld platform user interface Book a demo

API Data Delivery

Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.

Code example of using the IBISWorld API API documentation

Integrations

Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.

Screen of Client Application integrating with IBISWorld data View integrations

Related Coverage

Understand the landscape with full access to an IBISWorld license

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Declining print circulation is disrupting revenue streams

  • The decline of print newspapers is a defining challenge for Australia’s Newspaper Publishing industry. Circulation and advertising revenues have contracted, weakening a business model that once underpinned industry performance.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Newspaper Publishing in Australia
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Social media platforms are set to dominate news consumption

  • The growing dominance of social media and fast-consumption platforms will shape the next phase of Australia's Newspaper Publishing industry.

Biggest companies in the Newspaper Publishing in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2026
Revenue ($m)
2026
News Corp Australia
1,289.3
Nine Entertainment Co
425.3
Australian Community Media
230.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Newspaper Publishing in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Printed advertisements, Digital advertisements and Newspaper-inserted magazine advertising. Printed advertisements is the largest segment of the Newspaper Publishing in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Metropolitan newspapers are bolstered by subscription models

  • Australia has ten metropolitan or state-wide newspapers, most of which are owned by News Corp Australia and Nine Entertainment, except The West Australian, which is owned by Seven West Media.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms publish newspapers. Companies are included in the industry if they publish physical newspapers. The industry excludes newspapers that only publish online, but includes revenue generated online by publishers that print physical newspapers. Newspaper-inserted magazines are also included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia include Print advertisements, Digital advertisements, Newspaper-inserted magazine advertising, Metropolitan newspapers, Suburban and regional newspapers and National newspapers.

Companies

Companies covered in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia include News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment Co and Australian Community Media.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia include broadsheet, classifieds and shuttering.

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 5411 - Newspaper Publishing in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Print newspapers in Australia are facing a steep structural decline. Publishers are increasingly relying on digital subscriptions and government support to offset print losse...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Print advertising revenue continues to decline rapidly as advertisers shift to digital channels. Publishers are compensating with subscription models, but falling print reade...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Australian newspaper publishers are concentrated in metropolitan markets with high population density and advertising value. Urban centres deliver more profitable audiences, ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Newspapers face intense competition from digital news, social media and AI which offer personalised services. This has significantly disrupted traditional readership and adve...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

News Corp Australia remains the dominant player in metropolitan newspapers and is accelerating its shift from print to digital. The company’s use of AI and a premium digital ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of News Corp Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Nine Entertainment Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Australian Community Media's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for News Corp Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Nine Entertainment Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Australian Community Media, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Media law reforms have relaxed traditional ownership limits and enabled greater industry consolidation, but they also raise competitive pressures for smaller publishers. Regu...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Cost efficiencies have boosted profit margins. Newspaper publishers have looked to streamline operations like consolidating printing facilities to grow margins.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia in 2025?

The market size of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia is $2.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia in 2025?

There are 274 businesses in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia?

The Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia?

The Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia are News Corp Australia, Nine Entertainment Co and Australian Community Media

What does the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia include?

Print advertisements and Digital advertisements are part of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia is News Corp Australia.

How competitive is the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Australia.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

feedback