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Newspaper Publishing in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alex Petridis Alex Petridis New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 51111CA

Revenue

$1.9bn

2024

$1.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

10,989

Businesses

948

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Newspaper Publishing in Canada industry analysis

Newspaper publishers in Canada are continuously feeling the effects of digital media. External competition from multiple mediums has sent the industry into a flurry, as consumers now have endless ways to access news and stories. As print readership has fallen, advertisers are pulling out of newspapers despite an uptick in advertising expenditure. The pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, causing a sharp depression in advertising revenue as companies slashed marketing expenditures. Overall, industry revenue has decreased at a CAGR of 8.1% over the past five years and is expected to total $1.9 billion in 2024. In the same year, revenue is projected to dip by 2.3% while profit levels hit 5.5%.

Trends and Insights

  • Print newspapers are losing steam. With digital news outlets offering convenience and lower costs, consumers are drifting away from traditional papers, causing advertisers to follow suit and impacting newspaper revenue.
  • While local and national advertisers account for a significant portion of revenue, it has fallen off. Advertising companies are contacting other outlets as print readership has decreased.
  • Ontario's thriving newspaper industry benefits from its large, diverse audience and economic clout. Major urban centers like Toronto ensure robust readership, while corporate headquarters provide valuable advertising revenue.
  • Big publishers dominate, but the landscape’s shifting. Major players like Postmedia and Torstar own the lion's share of the market, but digital transformation is allowing new entrants to carve out space without huge start-up costs.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 8.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Printed papers are on their way out

  • Printed newspaper sales have fallen as many digital news outlets have hit the scene. Many of these outlets offer a more convenient and inexpensive way to consume news. Consumers prefer the ease of accessibility to holding a paper in their hands.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Newspaper Publishing in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Media fragmentation sparks shift in news consumption and advertising strategies

  • The emergence of digital platforms will cause the media landscape to become more fragmented. External competition from free online sources (blogs, video channels, podcasts and digital radios) will cause consumers to pivot instead of relying on a few news publications.

Biggest companies in the Newspaper Publishing in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Torstar Corporation
398.3
19.6
4.9
Quebecor Inc.
304.1
70.9
23.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

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

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Daily newspaper advertising, Community newspaper advertising and Digital ads. Daily newspaper advertising is the largest segment of the Newspaper Publishing in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Daily print newspapers are suffering slowly

  • Physical print editions of daily newspapers generate more than half the industry's revenue when considering advertising and circulation revenue. Older Canadians are more likely to continue reading print newspapers, whereas younger generations now predominantly access their news online.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada publishes and distributes print newspapers. Companies that only publish online news are excluded from this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Publishing newspapers in printPublishing newspapers in electronic formDistributing newspapers

Companies

Torstar CorporationQuebecor Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CIRCULATIONCLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGREADERSHIP

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 511110 - Newspaper Publishing in Canada

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 are losing steam. With digital news outlets offering convenience and lower costs, consumers are drifting away from traditional papers, causing advertisers to...

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 (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • 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

While local and national advertisers account for a significant portion of revenue, it has fallen off. Advertising companies are contacting other outlets as print readership h...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

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

Ontario's thriving newspaper industry benefits from its large, diverse audience and economic clout. Major urban centers like Toronto ensure robust readership, while corporate...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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

Big publishers dominate, but the landscape’s shifting. Major players like Postmedia and Torstar own the lion's share of the market, but digital transformation is allowing new...

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 2019-2024
  • 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

Postmedia announced in 2022 that it was launching a new Betting Essentials channel. As sports betting becomes more popular, this channel will help audiences familiarize thems...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Torstar Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Quebecor Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Torstar Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Quebecor Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

Government programs support local journalism. Initiatives like the Canada Periodical Fund and Local Journalism Initiative provide financial backing, helping small publishers ...

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 (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

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

Digital talent is crucial for modern journalism. Newspapers hire more digital professionals to manage their online platforms and create multimedia content. These roles are vi...

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 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

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 (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

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 Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada is $1.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Newspaper Publishing in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 948 businesses in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

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

The market size of the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 8.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

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

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

What are the biggest companies in the Newspaper Publishing market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Newspaper Publishing market in Canada are Torstar Corporation and Quebecor Inc.

What does the Newspaper Publishing in Canada include?

Publishing newspapers in print and Publishing newspapers in electronic form are part of the Newspaper Publishing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Newspaper Publishing in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Torstar Corporation.

How competitive is the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada.

Related Industries

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Competitors

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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 Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

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.