Nine to end print distribution of The Age and Financial Review in Tasmania from March

Key facts

• Nine newspapers will cease print distribution of The Age and The Australian Financial Review in Tasmania from the end of March.
• The company cited rising production costs and growing digital audiences as key factors.
• Nine has printed the titles at a News Corp press in Hobart since a facility closure in northern Tasmania in 2024.
• Launceston newsagency owner Daniel Marshall said he was 'a little bit shocked' and expects a business hit.
• Nine previously flagged a similar move in October 2022 but reversed the decision.
• Nine will continue sourcing newsprint from the Boyer Paper Mill in southern Tasmania, with no job losses expected.
• Nine's printed mastheads contribute 'just a small fraction' of its Tasmanian reach, according to a company spokesperson.

Print editions to disappear from Tasmanian newsstands

Print editions of The Age and The Australian Financial Review will no longer be available in Tasmania from the end of March, Nine newspapers has confirmed. The decision, driven by rising production costs and a growing digital audience, ends physical distribution of the two mastheads across the island state. The company said it was confident the move would have minimal impact on local newsagents, noting that Nine's printed titles account for only a small fraction of its Tasmanian reach. However, the announcement has drawn concern from small business owners who rely on newspaper sales for foot traffic.

Production costs and digital shift behind the move

Nine cited rising production costs and an accelerating shift of readers to digital platforms as the primary reasons for ending print distribution in Tasmania. The company has printed The Financial Review and The Age at a News Corp printing press in Hobart since the closure of a facility in northern Tasmania in 2024. Despite the change, Nine said it would continue to source all of its national newsprint from the Boyer Paper Mill in southern Tasmania. A company spokesperson stated that Tasmanian volumes represent a very small portion of overall newsprint consumption from the mill, and the change would not result in job losses.

Newsagent fears loss of foot traffic and sales

Daniel Marshall, owner of a Launceston newsagency, said he was 'a little bit shocked' by Nine's decision. He noted that many local businesses purchase the papers daily, and a large number of customers come specifically for those newspapers. Marshall expects his business to take a financial hit. 'When they don't come in anymore to get that paper, it not only stops the foot traffic coming through, but it also forces them to go online and search for the things they need there,' he said. The loss of regular customers could have a ripple effect on other sales.

Previous reversal and evolving print strategy

This is not the first time Nine has considered ending Tasmanian print distribution. The company flagged a similar move in October 2022 but quickly reversed its decision. The current plan appears to be proceeding, reflecting the sustained pressure on print media economics. Nine's decision aligns with broader industry trends as newspapers worldwide grapple with declining print circulation and rising costs. The company continues to invest in its digital offerings, aiming to capture the growing online readership.

Outlook: digital future for Tasmanian readers

From April, Tasmanian readers will need to access The Age and The Australian Financial Review through digital platforms. Nine has not indicated any further print distribution cuts, but the move underscores the accelerating transition from print to digital. For local newsagents like Marshall, the change represents a challenge to adapt. The loss of a daily print product may push some customers to shift their news consumption habits entirely online, further reducing foot traffic for small retailers.

The bottom line

• Nine will stop printing and distributing The Age and The Australian Financial Review in Tasmania from end of March.
• Rising production costs and growing digital audiences are the stated reasons for the decision.
• The company previously reversed a similar plan in 2022 but is now proceeding.
• Nine will continue to buy newsprint from the Boyer Paper Mill, with no job losses expected.
• Launceston newsagent Daniel Marshall said his business will suffer from lost foot traffic and sales.
• Tasmanian readers will need to rely on digital editions of both newspapers after the change.