A new feature of nzherald.co.nz paves the way for future money-making opportunities, says NZME chief executive Michael Boggs.
NZME, which publishes the New Zealand Herald and its website, reported digital revenue of $20.5 million for the six months to June 30, up 20 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
Revenue for the print side of the business on a pro forma basis was $110.6m, down 4 per cent from first half of 2016 and Boggs said the company was "really pleased with the performance of print in the first half".
Trading revenue across NZME - whose radio stations include NewstalkZB, ZM and The Hits - was $189.1m for the half year, down 3 per cent on the same period last year.
"We are pleased to report a slowing in revenue decline to 3 per cent for the first half," Boggs said.
"We are happy with this result and the market rates of revenue decline in key products have been as high as 11 per cent. For the second consecutive half-year period the growth in the dollar value of digital revenue was greater than the dollar value of the decline in print advertising revenue. This suggests the digital strategy is contributing to stability at the group level," he said.