It is anticipated that approximately 18,000 news retailers will experience an increase in their bills due to this price hike.
The national president of the Fed, Muntazir Dipoti, expressed his dismay, stating, “Given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the persistent rise in our expenses, news of this increase is a significant setback.”
Dipoti emphasized the necessity for publishers to intervene promptly in order to ensure continued nationwide access to printed materials.
He asserted, “The current model of escalating charges and declining sales is unsustainable.
“Publishers must no longer hide behind the argument that carriage charges concern wholesalers and retailers exclusively, especially when they control both pricing and profit margins.
“They must take immediate action to guarantee that any carriage charge imposed is impartial and within reach.”
Smiths News attributed the rise in charges to “unprecedented cost inflation across wages, fuel, and driver retention,” acknowledging the difficulty of their decision.
Vince Malone, the chairman of the Fed’s news committee, commented, “While Smiths News may claim to have reviewed its carriage charge template prior to this announcement, it appears to the Fed and its members as nothing more than a superficial action.”
“I genuinely question whether the Smiths News board comprehends the news sector and, particularly, the pivotal role played by independent retailers.
“Carriage charges are archaic and unjust as they deprive retailers of a significant portion of the profit they should earn from selling news.”
