NY Times subscriptions doubled in 2016

The New York Times Co. on Thursday reported better-than-expected revenue and profit for its fourth quarter, powered by a sharp increase in digital subscriptions.

“In Q4, we added 276,000 net new digital news subscriptions, the single best quarter since 2011, the year the pay model (was) launched,” Chief Executive Mark Thompson said in a release

The newspaper’s success came amid the shocking election of President Trump, who has frequently targeted the media in general and the Times in particular with attacks.

The Times took to Twitter to share the news and thank its readers, using the hashtag #factsmatter in a jab at Trump.

.@nytimes subscribers just passed 3MM, doubling in ‘16. Thanks to all #factsmatter #presson https://t.co/GKDbltQsGu

— NYTCo Communications (@NYTimesComm) February 2, 2017

{mosads}The newspaper said it had an increase of 41,000 paid subscriptions on both the print and digital fronts in the seven-day period following Election Day, and that it added more digital subscriptions in the last three months of 2016 than all of 2013 and 2014 combined.

Digital advertising revenue, which makes up about 42 percent of the Times’s total revenue, rose 10.9 percent to $77.6 million in the quarter.

Trump as a candidate and as president has repeatedly attacked the Times, often referring to it as “failing” and “fake news.”

Somebody with aptitude and conviction should buy the FAKE NEWS and failing @nytimes and either run it correctly or let it fold with dignity!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017