ABC Jul-Dec 2002: New Launches Shake-Up Teen Market
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 13 February 2003. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database. For full notes on how NewsLine’s reports are compiled please see Important Notes: ABC July – December 2002
ABC results for the six-month period ending December 2002 reveal a turbulent time for teen sector, with new launches helping to mask a slump across a number of established titles.
Emap’s stalwart J-17 recorded the sector’s largest decline in percentage terms, with circulation dropping by 20.5% year on year to 143,308, down from 180,351 in the same period in 2001.
Hachette Filipacchi’s flagship teen title, Sugar, saw the most significant decline in terms of actual numbers, with circulation dropping by 63,907 year on year. However, with a circulation of 321,258 for the six months ending December 2002, the title remains the sector leader.
Meanwhile, Hachette’s TV Hits managed to record a slight increase in circulation. The title, which recently merged with CD:UK, saw circulation increase by 1.4 year on year to 153,307, up from 151,252 in the same period in 2001.
Elsewhere, IPC’s Mizz recorded a substantial drop in circulation in the six months to December 2002. The title slipped by 10.5% year on year to 129,654, down from 144,933 in the same period the previous year.
In a busy period for the teenage magazine sector, two new titles were launched alongside the fledgling CosmoGIRL!, which recorded a circulation figure of 142,073 for the six months ending December 2002.
BBC’s Its Hot, which is aimed at the younger end of the teenage market, reported an initial circulation of 104,015 after incorporating the now defunct Like & Kicking. Meanwhile, Emap’s heavily-promoted Sneak debuted at 86,535 after being positioned as younger sister of the hugely popular Heat (see Emap Teen Titles To Aid Sneak Launch).
| Teenage Market YoY Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul – Dec 01 | Jul – Dec 02 | Actual Change | %Ch |
| Bliss | Emap Elan | 255,653 | 260,102 | 4,449 | 1.7 |
| CosmoGirl! (R) | National Magazine Company | n/a | 142,073 | n/a | n/a |
| It’s Hot (N) | BBC Magazines | n/a | 104,015 | n/a | n/a |
| J17 | Emap Elan | 180,351 | 143,308 | -37,043 | -20.5 |
| Live & Kicking (C) | BBC Magazines | 67,784 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mizz | IPC Media | 144,933 | 129,654 | -15,279 | -10.5 |
| Mizz Special Series | IPC Media | 139,323 | 136,827 | -2,496 | -1.8 |
| Shout | DC Thompson & Co | 111,069 | 101,010 | -10,059 | -9.1 |
| Sneak (N) | Emap | n/a | 86,535 | n/a | n/a |
| Smash Hits | Emap Performance | 162,712 | 145,174 | -17,538 | -10.8 |
| Sugar (B) (Was Attic Futura) | Hachette Filipacchi (was Attic Futura) | 385,165 | 321,258 | -63,907 | -16.6 |
| Top Of The Pops | BBC Magazines | 245,423 | 244,241 | -1,182 | -0.5 |
| TV Hits (B)* (Was Attic Futura) | Hachette Filipacchi (was Attic Futura) | 151,252 | 153,307 | 2,055 | 1.4 |
| Total | 1,843,665 | 1,967,504 | 123,839 | 6.7 | |
| *now incorporates CD:UK | |||||
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