Fairfax drops Nth Qld distribution

Fairfax is stopping distribution of three of its most read print titles in North Queensland, saying that they are no longer commercially viable.

 

This is on the backdrop of the company currently sharing distribution and printing with long-time rival News Corp in Queensland, to make the most of each company’s assets in the region.

 

March 26 is the final date North Queensland residents will be able to pick up print versions of The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

 

In a letter to newsagents in the region, the company said it would cease print distribution of the three newspapers because it was not commercially viable

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While the details are vague about where the line will be drawn, the letter did say distribution would cease in Townsville northwards. No indication has been given of distribution being halted elsewhere.

 

A spokesperson for Fairfax says, "We will continue to serve our readers in far north Queensland via our leading digital news sites. Unfortunately, the distribution of the printed versions of AFR, SMH and The Age to these regions is not – and has not been for some time – commercially viable. The commercial realities of supplying small volumes of newspapers to this market cannot be ignored."

 

Rival publisher News Corp says it does not have plans to end distribution for the area, as it prints local papers servicing the region, including the Cairns Post.

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