The Media Index 2002 study found that 87 per cent of the country's population read daily newspapers, up five per cent from last year.
The two free, weekday, morning publications, Streats and Today, helped boost print consumption since their launch two years ago. Streats has captured 11 per cent of the market, down three per cent from 2001, while Today climbed five per cent to 16 per cent.
The Straits Times - focusing on professionals, managers and businessmen - remained the biggest publication, with 43 per cent of the readership.
Competition resulting from the introduction of two Media-Works channels by Singapore Press Holdings - Channel U (Mandarin) and Channel I (English) - has also helped to boost the viewership of terrestrial TV.
Channel U, in particular, has had a strong start, now reaching 48 per cent of the market.
However, long-time market leader, MediaCorp's Mandarin-language Channel 8, continues to dominate, reaching 61 per cent of all viewers, however, this is down five per cent from 2001, Nielsen Media Research said.
