Decline in total daily newspaper circulation in 2024, “24sata” maintains leading market share

In 2024, Croatia’s daily newspaper circulation fell 14% to 24.2 million copies, while weekly sales dropped 5% to 1.6 million. Advertising revenues for dailies held steady at €14.8M, with weeklies growing 12% to €4.6M. 24sata remained the top-selling daily, and Hrvatski tjednik led among weeklies. Retail press revenues rose 2%, reversing the previous year’s decline, while Tisak plus lost ground to a new distributor in early 2025.

The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) conducted its regular press market survey in the Republic of Croatia for 2024, with the aim of determining the structure of this market. The survey covered 28 undertakings — newspaper publishers and press distributors — listed in the Register of press publishers and distributors kept by the Croatian Chamber of the Economy in line with the media regulations.

The results showed that in 2024, the total paid circulation of all general-interest daily newspapers in Croatia amounted to 24.2 million copies, while the total paid circulation of all general-interest weekly newspapers amounted to around 1.6 million copies.

In 2024, compared to 2023, the decline in daily newspaper circulation was slightly less pronounced (14%) than in 2023 compared to 2022 (15%), continuing a multi-year downward trend.

The weekly newspaper circulation fell by 5% compared to 2023, whereas in the previous year (2023 vs. 2022) the drop was 8%, indicating a somewhat milder decrease.

Publishers’ advertising revenue from general-interest daily newspapers in 2024 was just under EUR 14.8 million. The advertising revenue from general-interest weeklies amounted to EUR 4.6 million. The general-interest daily newspaper advertising market showed relatively stable revenues compared to 2023, while the weekly segment recorded a 12% increase in advertising revenue.

On the paid circulation market for general-interest daily newspapers in 2024, the best-selling paper was 24sata, published by 24sata d.o.o. In the general-interest weekly segment, the top-selling paper was Hrvatski tjednik, published by Tempus 22 d.o.o.

In 2024, there were no changes in publisher ownership. No new daily or weekly newspaper publisher entered the relevant press market.

On the press wholesale distribution market, the only distributor in Croatia was Tisak plus which in 2024 recorded a turnover decline compared to 2023, along with a continued drop in the number of its customers purchasing press for resale.

On the press retail market, total turnover from press retail in Croatia in 2024 rose by 2% compared to 2023, marking a shift to a positive trend after the 5% decline recorded in the previous survey for 2023 compared to 2022. Unlike in 2023, turnover growth was achieved by Tisak plus and iNovine, the two undertakings with the largest number of specialized retail outlets.

In the general-interest daily segment, the publishers slightly increased their retail revenues from direct press sales (through subscriptions and partially through street sales). The sales in specialized press outlets remained dominant (53% of the included undertakings’ distribution), primarily by Tisak plus d.o.o., Inovine d.d., and Fibis d.o.o., with Tisak plus d.o.o. playing the most significant role.

The largest general-interest daily publishers — Hanza Media Group and Styria Group, with their respective publishing entities — recorded the highest number of electronic publications in 2024, as well as the highest advertising revenues. The highest advertising revenue from electronic publications in 2024 was generated by 24sata d.o.o., followed by Hanza Media d.o.o. and Večernji list d.o.o.

Regarding the legal and/or factual barriers to entry in Croatia, almost all surveyed publishers stated that there have been no barriers to press distribution market, except for the general observation that the organization and execution of distribution is operationally complex, particularly with respect to delivery deadlines.

During the press market survey for 2024, certain market changes occurred in 2025. As of 1 February 2025, the company Distribucija tiskanih medija d.o.o. replaced Tisak plus as a new press distributor. Another significant development was the designation of press distribution services within Croatia as a service of general economic interest (Official Gazette 64/2025). On 30 June 2025, the Ministry of Culture and Media and Croatian Post d.d. signed a Contract for the provision of press distribution services as a service of general economic interest.

A more detailed overview of the Croatian press market in 2024 in the Croatian language is available here