ABC Results Jan-Jun 2005:TV Gives Mixed Results, While Gossip Continues Growth

The latest ABC results saw mixed results for the TV listings sector, with several of the nation’s most established titles suffering circulation decreases, while new market entrant TV Easy managed to make a good impression in its first three months of publication.

The new compact listings title from IPC reported a respectable circulation of 340,018 in the six months to June, having launched in April (see IPC Launches Compact TV Listings Weekly).

Elsewhere however, IPC suffered serious circulation declines with more established title, TV Times. The long-running title saw its sales dip by 11.7% year on year to a circulation of 418,192.

H Bauer’s TV Quick and Total TV Guide followed the decline, losing 11.6% and 10.1% year on year respectively. The titles now command circulations of 313,454 and 93,137 respectively.

IPC’s Whats On TV pushed its total circulation up by 2.4% year on year to 1,673,790, retaining its position as the market leader.

Meanwhile, the magazine’s closest rival, TV Choice, gained 6.9% year on year, reaching a circulation high of 1,157,622.

Despite dropping by 2.2% year on year, the Radio Times took third place in the TV Listings sector, with a circulation of 1,080,199.

Overall, the celebrity/gossip magazine sector enjoyed a good performance in the six months to June, with the majority of titles reporting increases.

Emap’s Closer enjoyed the largest increase, gaining 12.5% year on year to take its circulation up to 540,044 – closing in on rival IPC’s market-leading Now which saw its circulation rise by 2% to 591,795.

Heat claimed second place, with an increase of 3.7% year on year, to command a circulation of 560,438, while long-running celebrity title Hello! gained 8.7% to reach 392,481.

Hachette Filipacchi’s All About Soap suffered the biggest percentage decline year on year, dipping by 8.1% to a circulation of 81,009. However, in period on period analysis, the title has risen by 12.8%.

Elsewhere, New continued its downwards trend, dropping by 7.6% year on year, taking its circulation down to 373,039.

Northern & Shell’s OK! saw its circulation dip by 3.8% year on year in the six months to June, resting to 532,843, while the company’s Star magazine attracted a circulation of 182,393.

Soaplife managed a small increase, rising by just 0.1% year on year, taking its circulation up to 90,672.

The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 18 August 2005. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database.

ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk