大象传媒

大象传媒 Worldwide Press Releases

14.02.03

Circulation up for 大象传媒 Magazines

Radio Times

This area of the business, under Publishing Director Ashley Munday, encompasses not just Radio Times itself but also all brand developments, including new media and books.

Radio Times continues to stabilise its circulation in the paid for listings market with a drop of just 3.3% year on year and an increase of 1% period on period, following a particularly successful Christmas for the magazine.

New Editor Gill Hudson, who took the helm at end of June 2002, has refocused Radio Times on what readers like best about the magazine and has placed heavy emphasis on editorial quality and originality, as well as thought-provoking features. New family-friendly spots include a weekly RT Kids' Panel that invites children to give their frank opinions on current television aimed at them, as well as Family Viewing symbols on the listing pages to highlight programmes the magazine feels are suitable for the entire family to watch together.

Investment in the expansion of digital, cable and multi-channel TV and radio listings ensure the magazine is now the most comprehensive listings publication available in the UK. Radio Times now includes full schedules for the new Freeview service as well as popular digital radio stations.

Despite tough competition from the millions of supplements included in daily and Sunday newspapers, Radio Times is proving remarkably resilient and has successfully increased sales for this period. The Duchess of York, Martine McCutcheon and David Dickinson covers have all proved massive sellers for Radio Times and the bumper 2002 Christmas issue, despite the fiercest of competition, saw its sales increase year on year to a staggering 2,656,937.

In November, cable supplier NTL and Radio Times announced a groundbreaking deal to offer exclusive and tailored editions of the magazine to NTL Home's two million customers across the UK.

This period also saw the brand extended not only to handheld computers but also to mobile phones; with Radio Times listings now available on Vodafone's live! service. Radio Times' website is also visited over 200,000 times per month.

Other brand extensions included the third edition of the Radio Times Guide to Film, which went on sale last October. Consumer sales of the Guide are up 25% year-on-year and have eclipsed Time Out's film guide at retail.

Says Ashley Munday, Publishing Director: "This has been one of the most exciting periods ever for Radio Times. In September the magazine sold its 15 billionth copy and, having stabilised circulation and increased sales at Christmas, we enter our 80th year in good shape."

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Interests

Publishing Director Marcus Arthur is responsible for 大象传媒 History Magazine, 大象传媒 Wildlife, 大象传媒 Music Magazine (which records an annual ABC in February), 大象传媒 Top Gear, 大象传媒 Good Food, 大象传媒 Gardeners' World and Gardens Illustrated (which also records an annual ABC in February).

大象传媒 History Magazine is up again after a terrific year for the title. Circulation has seen a 3.7% increase year on year and 2% period on period and another milestone for the title was achieved recently when History Magazine signed up its 20,000th subscriber. In November, the magazine's Editor Greg Neale won his second British Society of Magazine Editors award since the title's launch less than three years ago.

But far from resting on its laurels, History will be at the centre of some exciting developments in the coming months, including `History Live!' supplements with the April and May issues, both packed with the best historical places to visit.

Says Publisher Phil Callow: "Last year was a great one for 大象传媒 History Magazine and we anticipate further steady circulation growth in 2003. There's some great history programming on television this spring and, for those who like to get out and about to enjoy their history, we've got two `History Live!' supplements."
There are exciting plans too for 大象传媒 Wildlife Magazine, which celebrates its 40th birthday with a special April issue, including a travel supplement and a look back at the major stories of the last four decades. And one man who has done more than any other to bring the delights of the natural world to a wider audience during this time, Sir David Attenborough, gives the magazine a major interview.

The birthday celebrations provide a springboard towards a major redesign of Wildlife Magazine with its May issue, based on the largest piece of research into the natural history market ever carried out. The magazine, down 6% period on period, will reach out to a broader audience while still fulfilling the needs of its existing readers.

Says Phil Callow: "With the highest newsstand sale for three years for 大象传媒 Wildlife Magazine's December issue, the year finished on a positive note despite our ABC being down and we've got some really exciting plans to mark 40 years of 大象传媒 Wildlife Magazine and to take the title into its fifth decade."
It has been a tough year for the market but 大象传媒 Music Magazine has held its own and seen an uplift in sales since it unveiled a new look with its tenth anniversary November issue. However, its annual ABC is down 11%.

Says Phil Callow: "We've put some hard work into making 大象传媒 Music Magazine better and anticipate stable or increased sales in 2003."

*annual ABC

Top Gear celebrates its 18th consecutive period as market-leader with the brand in better shape than ever following the successful return of the television show and a new look for the magazine and its website.

Every issue since the magazine's new look with its December issue has been up year on year. In addition, the ABC shows UK newsstand sales up 16% year on year and period on period, while actively purchased copies are up 13% year on year and 11% period on period.

However, the full impact of the Top Gear television show's triumphant return - its radically different format won rave reviews and big audiences - alongside the changes to the magazine came too late in the period to stop the overall ABC being down 4% this period.

Every thing is in place for a successful year ahead, says Publisher Adam Waddell: "The improvements we've made to the magazine have seen a significant increase in newsstand sales, which has coincided with our continued reduction in bulk sales, so we're in great shape for the coming months.

"The Top Gear TV show will be back on our screens in May and again in the autumn. With Jeremy Clarkson's profile so high, we're thrilled that he will contribute more than ever before to the magazine. There is also our Awards issue, usually the biggest seller of the year, to look forward to in March and another Top Gear Motoring Survey will be making headlines in the autumn."

大象传媒 Good Food has recorded its highest ABC for eleven periods and its fifth consecutive circulation increase. Another landmark period for the market-leading title saw the number of subscribers approach 80,000 for the first time. Its new ABC is 342,275 - up 6% period on period and year on year.

The period also included the big-selling Christmas issue. When combined with 大象传媒 Magazines' one-shot 大象传媒 Good Food Vegetarian Christmas, sales exceeded 550,000 and there are plans for more Good Food spin-offs this year. As well as vegetarian specials these will have other themes, like last year's Italian one-shot.

Says Publishing Director Marcus Arthur: "I know we haven't reached the peak yet with Good Food. We are constantly working to reinvent the title, to attract new readers such as those who are less experienced in the kitchen, while making sure that we don't ignore our heartland - people who really enjoy cooking. And with the brand so powerful, we will also be publishing several Good Food one-shots during what promises to be another great year."

大象传媒 Gardeners' World has continued to outperform its competitors and grow market share despite a difficult trading period for the gardening industry. At UK newsstand, the autumn saw total sales volumes down 15% year on year, while Gardeners' World saw only a 3% year on year fall. Meanwhile, the subscriptions base in the UK has grown to over 110,000 from 108,000 last year.

With its overall ABC down less than 2% and a larger period on period fall in line with the seasonal nature of gardening titles, Gardeners' World is well positioned for further success during what promises to be a very exciting year. Gardeners' World returns to 大象传媒 TV in the spring with a new lead presenter, Monty Don, and new production team. This will coincide with the biggest-ever issue of the magazine, whose stablemate Easy Gardening will also return to the newsstand with three issues. Launched as a one-shot last March and priced at 拢1.99, it sold over 75,000 copies and was praised by readers for its practical content and great value.

The first of 大象传媒 Magazines' Daily Telegraph gardening specials will be called Gardens to Visit and goes on-sale on the 5th March priced at 拢3.95. The second special issue (on-sale 30th April) will be themed around plants and flowers. Both are 大象传媒 magazines published using the Daily Telegraph brand under licence. The editorial content builds on both the 大象传媒's and The Daily Telegraph's gardening expertise and has been developed to complement rather than compete with the Saturday Telegraph and the 大象传媒's existing stable of gardening magazines.

Announcing a second annual ABC, Gardens Illustrated has enjoyed a successful year, despite experiencing a decline in UK sales. 2003 sees Gardens Illustrated in fantastic shape as it prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary as the world's most beautiful gardens magazine.

Says Publishing Director Marcus Arthur: "This promises to be the most exciting year ever for readers of gardening magazines. Gardeners World, which proved so resilient last year, has its biggest ever issue, to coincide with a new look TV counterpart. Stablemate Easy Gardening, which made an impressive debut as a one-shot in 2002, is back with three issues. Britain's most beautiful gardens title, Gardens Illustrated, celebrates its tenth birthday. All this - and 大象传媒 Magazines launches two new Daily Telegraph gardening magazines."

* annual ABC

Women's

Publishing Director Jo Morrell is responsible for 大象传媒 Magazines' women's glossy, eve, and its two homes titles, 大象传媒 Good Homes and 大象传媒 Homes & Antiques.

The first fruits of its successful new-look, unveiled in its October issue have seen the overall ABC increase 2% period on period. The magazine's 11% increase in UK newsstand sales year on year is better than any of its competitors.

Largely, however, the full impact of eve's mid-period `Beautiful, useful, real' new-look is not yet reflected in its ABC. Issues following the look saw double-digit percentage increases in copy sales and advertising revenue. The November and December issues also saw well over 1,000 subscribers sign-up with eve - not just a double-digit but triple-digit percentage increase on a year ago.

Says Publishing Director Jo Morrell: "The new eve has created excitement in readers and advertisers alike. The readers' response has been overwhelming, with huge numbers - far more than expected - letting us know how much they like the magazine and applying to join our readers' panel. Advertisers too have been full of praise. The new-look issue secured new clients such as Tesco, Coca-Cola, Rolex and Lancome and, having seen the October issue, others, such as Zanussi, Illy, Lindemans, and Gossard, booked space, with many other key players increasing their spend.

"The success of eve's new-look, together with the increase in newsstand circulation accompanied by a 32% year on year reduction in bulks gives a clear indication of the underlying strength of the title."
Last year's major redesign of 大象传媒 Good Homes has continued to produce dramatic results, with UK newsstand sales jumping 10% year on year and subscriptions up by 6%, while bulks have been reduced by almost 75% year on year. Good Homes will be adding value to the package it offers while maintaining its unique position in the market.

The redesign of 大象传媒 Homes & Antiques has been a longer process, following last summer's change of editor, and a major new-look was unveiled with the February issue, under new editor Mary Carroll. As with Good Homes, bulks have substantially reduced this period - by more than 40%.
While both ABCs are down this period, the 大象传媒 Magazines' homes portfolio is in good shape and strongly positioned to move into the next stage of its development this year.
Says Jo Morrell: "The homes market remains crowded and ultra-competitive but we have been working hard to improve both our magazines and have some exciting plans for the coming year that we expect to see have an impact on the next ABC."

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Youth & Children's

Publishing Director Toni Round is responsible for teenage titles Top Of The Pops and It's HOT!; pre-teen titles such as Girl Talk and a new range of Disney-branded magazines; educational titles including 大象传媒 Learning is Fun! and pre-school magazines such as 大象传媒 Toybox, Tweenies and newcomer Fimbles, launched in November.

Top Of The Pops Magazine is up 4% period on period and stable year on year and has strengthened its position as the UK's number one music magazine after a year in which shows like Pop Idol finally gave the pop industry something to celebrate again.

With seven out of the ten Pop Idol finalists becoming chart stars the impact of this show, and others like it, cannot be underestimated. But Top Of The Pops Magazine did much more than simply reap the benefit of a long-awaited upturn in pop's fortunes. While competitors failed to capitalise - CD:UK, closing this period - TOTP underwent a complete redesign, based entirely on reader research, and found innovative ways of working with stars like Gareth Gates and Will Young, such as December's issue featuring not just two different Gareth covers but two different interviews too.

Says Publisher Alfie Lewis: "Top Of The Pops Magazine's unique proposition as the only title featuring nothing but music meant that we were able to give the space to stars like Gareth Gates that our readers demanded, as well as having the expertise to feature them in exciting and unexpected ways. With the amount of money being spent on mobile ringtones and logos appearing to plateau, we combined great editorial with unique gifts to offer the best value on the newsstand. We've stabilised circulation year on year and are now seeing sales growth, based entirely on actively purchased copies."

大象传媒 Magazines' new teen title It's HOT! , launched in April last year, records its debut ABC this period and has increased sales by 53% year on year on those of its predecessor L&K a year ago as well as being up on last period's Publisher's Statement, based on sales of the first three issues.

Says Publisher Alfie Lewis: "This is a huge achievement by It's HOT! Not only were we right in thinking that there is a place for a younger entertainment title but It's HOT! has come up with a winning formula. Unique features such as EastEnders and S Club comic strips have been a big hit and have helped It's HOT! to beat off some stiff competition."

*Publisher's Statement

This period saw 大象传媒 Magazines launch another new pre-teen Disney title. Disney's Explorer joined Disney Girl and Disney's Comic, which launched in April and record strong debut ABCs of 52,425 and 48,003 respectively. Disney's Big Time, which moved to 大象传媒 Magazines a year ago, saw a modest 3% fall year on year.

Says Acting Publishing Director Jaynie Bye: We've brought more than 100,000 new sales to the ever-more crowded pre-teen market and that's a fantastic performance by our new magazines. Of course, we will be able to add to that with Disney's Explorer next time. While Disney's Big Time is slightly down year on year, it is an entertainment-based title and sees some fluctuation depending on what is a hit at the cinemas."

Meanwhile, heavy investment in the long-established Girl Talk is beginning to show dividends, with the title remaining static period on period in the face of growing competition. Further investment is planned for this year.

Says Jaynie Bye: "As the launch editor of Girl Talk back in 1995, I'm delighted to see that it is holding its own against newer titles and I am determined to keep investing in the magazine - the original `tweenage' title - so that we can regain circulation."

Blue Peter magazine is 大象传媒 Magazines' other pre-teen title. The title's ABC of 39,393 is its first ABC, following a relaunch last year.

Says Jaynie Bye: "This is a good start for Blue Peter magazine with the first regular magazine in over 40 years of the programme."

大象传媒 Magazines also publishes three educational magazines under the `大象传媒 Learning Together' banner and the longest established of these, 大象传媒 Learning is Fun!, for five to sevens, remains stable year on year with sales of just over 58,000. For the same age group, 大象传媒 The Magic Key is down after the withdrawal from sale of an issue this period as a precaution following safety concerns over a covermounted gift. Pre-school title Toybox Teach Me, in its first comparative ABC period, is down 2%.

Says Jaynie Bye: "Our magazines provide a popular and accessible way for parents to support their children's school work at home and they continue to perform well."

Title ABC Jul-Dec `02 ABC Jul-Dec `01 % change pop
Disney Girl 52,425* - -
Disney's Comic 48,003* - -
Disney's Big Time 46,043 58,320 -21.1
Blue Peter 39,393* - -
Girl Talk 83,551 83,280 +0.3
Toybox Teach Me 56,241 57,548 -2.3
大象传媒 Learning is Fun! 58,075 60,485 -4.0
大象传媒 The Magic Key 45,039 56,771 -20.7

*first ABC

大象传媒 Toybox takes over the slot as the UK's most popular pre-school title this period with a stable ABC of just over 185,000 copies while Tweenies, despite a 2.4% increase year on year, takes second place this time.

Newcomer Fimbles launched in November for two to four year olds and is therefore yet to publish an ABC. However, a Publisher's Statement of 132,000, based on sales of the first three issues, sees it comfortably exceeding the launch target of 120,000.

Says Jaynie Senior: "The success of Fimbles Magazine shows there is plenty of room for high-quality, big-brand pre-school magazines, in what is now a more crowded market. We haven't damaged sales of our leading titles Toybox and Tweenies and look forward to seeing even more Fimbles fans enjoying the magazine."

While new characters join the pre-school market this period also saw the reinvigoration of title featuring a familiar face. Sales of Noddy magazine were up 10.5% period on period.

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Notes
大象传媒 Magazines is a division of 大象传媒 Worldwide Ltd, the main commercial consumer arm of the 大象传媒. Its portfolio of more than 30 regular titles for adults, teenagers and children includes Radio Times - Britain's most profitable magazine.

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