Daily Mail chiefs claim the company’s online service, Mail Online, is on course to become the most popular news website in the world, although critics say its financial performance is floundering.
The claims come as owner DMGT reveals digital revenue from Mail Online and Metro.co.uk rose to £8m in the six months to April 3 – up 50% from last year, that means each of the sites’ 66.4 million monthly uniques (ABC: March 2011) was worth £0.12 over the six-month period, or £0.02 per month.
In March, the Mail Online overtook the Huffington Post to become the world’s second most read news website.It is predicted that the site will have 70 million unique users in May.
Martin Morgan, chief executive of DMGT said the Mail Online “may go past the New York Times” with its success in May.
DMGT also reported on the success of its iPhone app. The app has been downloaded 280,000 times with 66,000 people using it on a daily basis, on average two-and-a-half times a day. The Mail’s iPhone app is free or people can opt to pay £4.99 for six months or £8.99 for 12 months for an ad-free version.
Stephen Daintith, DMGT’s finance director, said it was too early to report on tablet figures after the launch of the Mail’s iPad app earlier this month. The iPad app costs £2.39 a month, £6.49 for three months, £10.99 for six months or £19.99 for a year’s subscription.
