Fairfax is stopping distribution of three of its most read titles in North Queensland, The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, from March 26.

In a letter to newsagents in the region, the company said it would cease print distribution of the three newspapers because it was not commercially viable. Fairfax is vague about what specific region will be covered, but did say distribution would cease in Townsville northwards. At this stage, no indication has been given of distribution being halted elsewhere.

[Related: Fairfax revenue down 3.3 per cent]

A spokesperson for Fairfax says, "We will continue to serve our readers in far north Queensland via our leading digital news sites. Unfortunately, the distribution of the AFR, SMH and The Age to these regions is not – and has not been for some time – commercially viable. The commercial realities of supplying small volumes of newspapers to this market cannot be ignored."

The company has also been in discussions with News Corp about sharing print facilities and distribution, already doing so in Queensland.

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