Nine newspapers has confirmed that print editions of The Age and The Australian Financial Review will no longer be available in Tasmania from the end of March.
Reasons for the Decision
Nine cited rising production costs and a growing digital audience as primary factors for discontinuing printing and distribution in Tasmania.
A spokesperson stated that over 90 percent of Tasmanian subscribers now access news digitally, making the printing of low-volume paper editions unsustainable.
Previous Reversal
This decision follows a similar announcement in October 2022, which Nine quickly reversed at that time.
Printing Logistics and Local Impact
Since 2024, Nine has printed its daily Financial Review and The Age editions at a News Corp printing press in Hobart after a facility in Tasmania's north closed. The company confirmed it would continue to source its national newsprint from the Boyer Paper Mill in Tasmania's south, stating that this change would not result in job losses at the mill.
Impact on Newsagents
Daniel Marshall, a newsagency owner in Launceston, expressed concern about the decision's impact on local businesses, noting that the newspapers generate foot traffic and sales.
Ben Kearney from the Australian Lotteries and Newsagents Association acknowledged the general decline in newspaper sales but highlighted the specific financial impact on Tasmanian newsagents, with one Hobart business projected to lose approximately $25,000 annually.
Final Print Dates
The final print editions in Tasmania will be The Sunday Age on March 29 and the Financial Review on Saturday, March 28.