The New York Times added 420,000 digital subscribers in the third quarter of 2026, bringing its total subscriber base to 13.76 million. The company said in its earnings report, released Wednesday, that it remains on track to reach 15 million subscriptions by the end of 2027.
Digital-only subscriptions accounted for 13.22 million of the total. The company also reported 540,000 print subscribers for the quarter, down from 570,000 at the same point a year earlier.
The Times spent $3.8 million on its ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI during the quarter. Since it began reporting generative AI-related legal costs separately in 2024, those expenses have reached $36.7 million. CEO Meredith Kopit Levien described “human-made journalism” as an advantage for the company.
Affiliate and licensing revenue increased, mainly because of higher licensing income and Wirecutter referral revenue. On an investor call, Kopit Levien said the company has not seen an impact from subscribers using AI agents to negotiate prices, but is assessing how automated third-party tools interact with its platforms. She said the Times can allow, restrict or block specific tools.
Kopit Levien also described video as a significant area of investment. The company is expanding newsroom video production, including shows, visual investigations and short-form formats. It is also introducing short-form video franchises, which she said are intended to bring the Times’ journalism to new formats and increase audience engagement.
Sources: Nieman Lab.