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BBC’s Match of the Day Magazine Breaks Into Super League
The BBC’s glossy Match of the Day magazine, now selling over 73,000 copies, has radically improved sales from this period last year when it was only a fledgling title. Now an established name it is competing in the top league with the big boys Four Four Two (85,389) and World Soccer (62,908).
Football Magazines Jan-Jun 1998 YoY ABC Comparisons
| Title | Jan 97 – Jun 97 | Jan 98 – Jun 98 | Actual Change | % Change |
| BBC Match Of The Day | 40,864 | 73,244 | 32,380 | 79.24 |
| Four Four Two | 70,474 | 85,389 | 14,915 | 21.16 |
| Glory Glory Man United | 75,840 | 52,757 | -23,083 | -30.44 |
| Liverpool FC Official Magazine | 59,020 | 44,022 | -14,998 | -25.41 |
| Manchester United | 159,031 | 117,858 | -41,173 | -25.89 |
| Match | 138,104 | 117,542 | -20,562 | -14.89 |
| Shoot | 99,344 | 80,727 | -18,617 | -18.74 |
| Soccerstars | 58,006 | 40,208 | -17,798 | -30.68 |
| Total Football | 34,006 | 32,741 | -1,265 | -3.72 |
| World Soccer | 56,993 | 62,908 | 5,915 | 10.38 |
Manchester United and Liverpool’s poor performances towards the end of the season are mirrored by their affiliated titles in the marketplace. In the junior league Match and Shoot suffered similar slumps in form, losing 14.89% and 18.74% in circulation respectively year on year.
With the advent of the new domestic season and renewed interest sparked by the World Cup this decline in form should prove to be only temporary.