The newspaper began publication 1904[5][6] as a supplement to the Politiken newspaper, and a year later, it became a separate newspaper. The headquarters of the paper is in Copenhagen.[7]
In December 2010 Ekstra Bladet editor-in-chief Poul Madsen threatened to complain to the European Court of Justice after its submission of an application to Apple's App Store was rejected.[8] Madsen claimed the application was deemed offensive, and in an editorial described Apple as being an "American nanny".[9]
Since 5 October 2012 Tipsbladet, an association football magazine, has been sold with the Friday edition of Ekstra Bladet.[10]
The current editor-in-chief is Henrik Qvortrup who took over in July 2021.[11] Poul Madsen was chief editor from September 2007 through March 2021.[12][11] Hans Engell held the position from 2000 to 2007.[12] Victor Andreasen served as the editor-in-chief of the paper for two times, between 1963 and 1967 and between 1971 and 1976.[13]
For over 100 years, Ekstra Bladets main competitor has been BT published by Berlingske Media.
Ekstra Bladet's readership and circulation has declined in recent years, and continues to do so.[7][14] During the last six months of 1957 the paper had a circulation of 68,178 copies on weekdays.[15] The circulation of the paper was 210,000 copies in 1991, 198,000 copies in 1992 and 185,000 copies in 1993.[16] It fell to 177,000 copies in 1994, to 168,000 in 1995 and to 166,000 copies in 1996.[16] Although its circulation grew to 169,000 copies in 1997, it again decreased and was 159,000 copies in 1998 and 148,000 copies in 1999.[16]
It was 134,000 copies in 2000 and 127,000 copies in 2001.[16] The circulation of the paper fell to 119,000 copies in 2002.[17] It was the fourth best selling Danish newspaper in 2003 with a circulation of 110,000 copies.[18] In 2004, the paper had a circulation of 110,000 copies.[19] There is another report giving its 2004 circulation as 106,000 copies.[20] In 2012, the paper had a circulation of 60,000 copies.[7]
In January 2012, the paper's website had an Alexa Internet global rank of #2061 and a rank of #5 in Denmark.[21] As of July 2018,[update] the site held ranks of #3359 globally and #9 in Denmark.[22]