- The New York Times reaches 12.33 million subscribers, nearing 2027 target
- Digital revenues and subscriber numbers surge, offsetting print declines
- Strategic focus on video, AI, and diversified content driving future growth
The New York Times Company reported robust third-quarter results for 2025, marking a milestone in its digital evolution as total subscribers surpassed 12 million for the first time. The company reached 12.33 million subscribers, buoyed by 460,000 new digital-only additions — a step toward its 15 million target for 2027.
Subscription revenue climbed 9.1% to $494.6 million, led by a 14% rise in digital-only subscriptions to $367.4 million. Growth was fuelled by bundled offerings that combine core news with services such as Games, Cooking and The Athletic. These bundles have offset a decline in news-only subscriptions, reflecting a consumer shift toward packages that deliver a wider mix of content and experiences.
The incredible quarterly increase of nearly half a million subscribers was also boosted by the introduction of family subscriptions, which allow subscribers to share their subscription at a discounted price.
Digital advertising also performed strongly, up 20.3% year-over-year, driven by higher demand and a greater volume of ad inventory. The gains continue to balance the steady decline in print, where subscription revenue fell 3% to $127.2 million amid lower home-delivery and single-copy sales.
The company reported net income of $81.6 million, up 27.3% from a year earlier. Earnings per share came in at 50 cents, with adjusted EPS at 59 cents — ahead of Wall Street’s 53-cent consensus. Total revenue rose 9.5% to $700.8 million, beating analyst expectations of $692 million.
The Times also recorded a $2.4 million pre-tax expense related to its copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, underlining the growing tension between news organisations and tech companies over intellectual property in the AI era.
CEO Meredith Kopit Levien told investors the company’s strategy is “delivering strong revenue growth and significant free cash flow.” The Times ended the quarter with $1.1 billion in cash, aided by lower tax payments linked to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed under the Trump administration.
Levien also outlined new initiatives in video and AI. The recently launched “Watch” tab in the Times app features video podcasts and original visual journalism tied to existing products such as Cooking and The Athletic. While monetisation for video is still developing, the company sees strong potential for deeper engagement and new advertising opportunities.
AI integration continues to advance through features such as article voice narration, automated metric conversions for Cooking and Wirecutter, and improved marketing analytics. Levien said these tools are designed to make journalism more accessible and personalised.
Operating costs rose slightly due to continued investment in journalism and product innovation, but operating margins and free cash flow strengthened. The company generated $392.9 million in free cash flow during the first nine months of 2025, up from $237.7 million a year earlier.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.thewrap.com/the-new-york-times-q3-2025-earnings/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.thewrap.com/the-new-york-times-q3-2025-earnings/ – In Q3 2025, The New York Times surpassed 12 million subscribers, adding 460,000 digital-only subscribers, moving closer to its 15 million goal by 2027. Total subscription revenues rose by 9.1% to $494.6 million, with digital-only revenues increasing by 14% to $367.4 million, bolstered by bundled services like Games, Cooking, and The Athletic. Digital ad revenue grew by 20.3%, driven by strong advertiser demand and new ad supply. The company reported a $2.4 million pre-tax cost related to its ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. Net income reached $81.6 million, up 27.3% year-over-year, with earnings per share at 50 cents, and adjusted EPS at 59 cents, exceeding analyst expectations. Total revenue was $700.8 million, up 9.5% year-over-year, surpassing analyst estimates of $692 million. Print subscription revenue decreased by 3% to $127.2 million, primarily due to lower domestic home-delivery and fewer single-copy sales. The company had $1.1 billion in cash on hand, partly due to lower cash tax payments from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. CEO Meredith Kopit Levien highlighted the company’s strong performance and strategic direction during the investor call.
- https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/the-new-york-times-q3-2025-earnings-highlights – The New York Times Company reported strong Q3 2025 earnings, with a 14% increase in digital subscription revenue, adding 460,000 net new digital subscribers, bringing the total to 12.3 million. Digital advertising revenues grew over 20%, reflecting effective monetisation strategies. The company demonstrated advancements in video and AI integration, maintaining operational efficiency despite slight upticks in operating costs due to investments in journalism and product experiences. Overall, the positive aspects significantly outweighed the challenges.
- https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/new-york-times-q3-2025-slides-digital-growth-drives-26-profit-increase-93CH-4334007 – The New York Times Company presented its Q3 2025 earnings, revealing strong digital subscriber growth and expanding profit margins. The company added approximately 460,000 net digital-only subscribers, bringing its total digital-only subscriber base to 12.33 million. Total revenue increased 9.5% year-over-year to $701 million, with adjusted operating profit growing 26.1% to $131 million. Digital-only subscription revenues grew 14.0% year-over-year to $367 million, continuing the company’s consistent upward trajectory in this critical revenue segment.
- https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/the-new-york-times-company-reports-strong-q3-2025-results – In its Q3 2025 earnings report, The New York Times Company highlighted strong performance, driven by a substantial increase in digital-only subscribers and revenue growth across its digital platforms. The company reported a 14% rise in digital subscription revenues, with a 20.3% increase in digital advertising revenues. Despite a 5.8% increase in operating costs, the company achieved a higher operating profit margin of 15%. Free cash flow improved significantly to $392.9 million for the first nine months of 2025, compared to $237.7 million in the same period of 2024.
- https://mlq.ai/stocks/NYT/earnings-call-transcript/Q3-2025 – During the Q3 2025 earnings call, The New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien highlighted the company’s strategy to reach 15 million subscribers, adding 460,000 net new digital subscribers, bringing the total to 12.3 million. Digital subscription revenue increased by 14%, driven by strong audience engagement. The company is expanding its efforts in video, audio, and AI to make reporting more accessible, and is adding value to its products with new content, shows, features, games, and other enhancements.
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/new-york-times-co-q3-profit-rises-revenue-growth – The New York Times Company reported stronger profit for Q3 2025, supported by growth across its subscription, advertising, and affiliate businesses. Net income climbed to $81.65 million, or $0.50 per share, from $64.14 million, or $0.39 per share, in the same quarter of 2024. Total revenue grew 9.5% to $700.82 million, led by subscription revenue of $494.63 million, up 9.1%, advertising revenue of $132.291 million, up 11.8%, and affiliate, licensing, and other revenue of $73.9 million, up 7.9%.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative presents recent financial results for Q3 2025, with no evidence of prior publication. TheWrap’s report is the earliest known publication of this information. The inclusion of updated data, such as the addition of 460,000 digital-only subscribers, justifies a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
Direct quotes from CEO Meredith Kopit Levien are unique to this report, with no prior matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
TheWrap is a reputable entertainment and media news outlet. However, it is not as established as major news organisations like the BBC or Reuters. The report cites specific figures and statements, enhancing its credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The reported financial figures align with The New York Times’ recent performance trends. The addition of 460,000 digital-only subscribers is consistent with the company’s strategic focus on digital growth. The mention of a $2.4 million pre-tax expense related to the lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft is plausible, given the ongoing legal challenges. The report’s tone and language are consistent with typical corporate communications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative provides fresh, original content with direct quotes from CEO Meredith Kopit Levien, supported by specific financial figures that align with The New York Times’ recent performance trends. The source, TheWrap, is a reputable outlet, and the information is plausible and consistent with known data. No significant credibility risks were identified.
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