‘Post’ Beats ‘News,’ Finally

This morning Rupert Murdoch’s dream — well, one of Rupert Murdoch’s dreams — came true. The Audit Bureau of Circulations, the gang that measures sales of U.S. newspapers and magazines, released its latest numbers, and the Post has finally overtaken the Daily News in weekday circulation. (The News still kills on Sundays.) Some relevant numbers:

Average weekday circulation of the Daily News in the six-month period ending September 30, 2006, as announced today: 693,382
Average weekday circulation of the New York Post in the six-month period ending September 30, 2006, as announced today: 704,011

Average weekday circulation of the Daily News in the six-month period ending September 30, 2005, a year ago: 686,274
Average weekday circulation of the New York Post in the six-month period ending September 30, 2005, a year ago: 669,663

Average weekday circulation of the Daily News in the six-month period ending September 30, 2000: 701,078
Average weekday circulation of the New York Post in the six-month period ending September 30, 2000, during which the Post cut its cover price in half, to 25 cents: 435,898

Estimated cash flow of the Daily News: marginally profitable.
Estimated cash flow of the New York Post: losing at least $15 million annually.

Post Beats News [NYP]