From 28 July 2025, Royal Mail will move to an alternate weekday delivery model for Second Class letters. Mail will be posted on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on one week, then Tuesday and Thursday the following.

Crucially, for publisher brands that send titles using the Royal Mail service, access mail (the bulk mailing route commonly used for subscription delivery) will follow the same alternating timetable.

Saturday deliveries are also set to be scraped for the second-class service, but to be kept for first class, meaning magazines posted later in the week could face further delays in reaching readers, or be forced to pay more.

Ofcom has acknowledged the impact these changes may have on time-sensitive titles, such as Radio Times, The Week, and publications serving older readers or those in rural areas. However, the final decision does not include or mention specific provisions for magazine publishers or subscription-based content. Instead, the burden of ensuring timely delivery has been shifted to publishers, with the expectation that they will absorb the cost of faster, premium services.

Separately, Ofcom has also confirmed that it will introduce regulation for the new alternate-day delivery service, including “margin squeeze controls” to guard against anti-competitive pricing. This means Royal Mail won’t be allowed to set wholesale prices so high that other companies can’t afford to compete in the bulk mail market. With Royal Mail the only provider capable of final-mile delivery, continued oversight is vital.

Commenting on the announcement, PPA CEO, Sajeeda Merali said:

“We are disappointed by Ofcom’s recommendation to scrap Saturday deliveries for second-class post. Reducing delivery days not only hurts specialist publishers, who are already absorbing rising costs, it undermines consumer experience.

Subscribers pay for a regular service, and delays reduce the value of their subscription, particularly for consumers for whom a digital alternative would be unsuitable. Offering a faster delivery option at a higher cost puts the onus and cost on publishers – smaller publishers will struggle to stay afloat or be forced to pass costs onto readers. We hope that Ofcom will reconsider the impact these reforms will have in their review of postal pricing and affordability later this year.

We welcome Ofcom’s decision to retain regulation of existing bulk mail services and to introduce new safeguards, including protections against anti-competitive pricing. These measures are essential to ensuring publishers can continue delivering subscription magazines without the risk of anti-competitive prices along the line, particularly in a market where Royal Mail remains the sole final-mile provider within the market”

Ofcom plans to consult on postal pricing and affordability in late 2025, and PPA will continue to push for a model that protects the viability of print subscriptions and recognises the distinct needs of magazine publishers.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Eilidh Wilson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, PPA (eilidh.wilson@ppa.co.uk)