Nexstar Sites, Mobile Apps Top 1.1B Page Views

Nexstar Media Group said Thursday that total users of its websites and mobile applications in April increased 133% from the same time period a year earlier, to more than 96 million, generating more than 1.1 billion page views, up 250% from April 2019.

Nexstar also announced that video plays surpassed 135 million as traffic spiked due to increased user demand for local digital news and content related to the coronavirus pandemic.

This marks the eighth consecutive month in which Nexstar has seen at least double-digit growth across its websites and mobile applications, following a record March. Year-to date, total users are up approximately 23% and page views are up 72% from December 2019. For 1Q 2020, Nexstar served 2.8 billion pages across web and apps, representing a lift of 43% in page views and 21% in users versus 4Q 2019.

Nexstar’s websites and apps now reach more than 36% of the U.S. internet audience. Engagement is also increasing. In March alone, the duration, or time spent on Nexstar properties increased by 186%, whereas since January we have seen an uptick of 245%.

“Our explosive digital growth this year is a clear reflection of the trust our users place in Nexstar as a source of credible, relevant, engaging local news and entertainment,” said Gregory Raifman, president of Nexstar Digital. “In times of uncertainty or crisis, users turn to Nexstar’s websites and mobile applications knowing that our 5,500 journalists across the country will deliver the latest up-to-the-minute, high-quality news and information. As a result of the high interest in issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and our users’ desire to reach us for essential news and information every day, Nexstar has now surpassed one billion monthly pageviews, and we expect that number to grow with the launch of News Nation on WGN America in September.”