ABC Jul-Dec 2003: Computing Titles Slump
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 12 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 NewsLine.
The latest ABC results for the six months to December 2003 reveal a poor performance for computing magazines, which saw circulation decline across the board. Dennis Publishing’s Computer Shopper suffered a 6.0% year on year decline to 103,429 and its Mac User magazine dipped by 8.2% during the same period to 23,251.
However, last year Dennis Publishing extended its computer magazine portfolio with the launch of a new monthly title called Custom PC. The magazine is intended for PC enthusiasts looking to upgrade their systems and develop their computer hardware (see Dennis Launches New Computer Title).
Crimson Publishing’s What Laptop and Handheld PC also had a less than impressive period with circulation declining by 1.7% year on year to 25,107, down from 25,549 in the same period the previous year.
| Computing Magazines: Jul-Dec2003 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 02 | Jul-Dec 03 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| Computer Buyer | Dennis Publishing | 41,234 | 36,039 | -5,195 | -12.6 |
| Computer Shopper | Dennis Publishing | 110,035 | 103,429 | -6,606 | -6.0 |
| MacUser | Dennis Publishing | 25,315 | 23,251 | -2,064 | -8.2 |
| PC Pro | Dennis Publishing | 121,189 | 110,326 | -10,863 | -9.0 |
| What Laptop And Handheld PC | Crimson Publishing | 25,549 | 25,107 | -442 | -1.7 |
| Total | 323,322 | 298,152 | -25,170 | -7.8 | |
Titles dedicated to the PlayStation 2 games console had a rough ride in the latest round of ABCs for the six months to December 2003. Future Publishing’s PSM2 was the worst hit with a sharp 37.6% year on year decline in circulation to 43,684.
Future stablemate PlayStation 2 Special Edition also performed poorly with circulation dropping by 45.8% year on year to 22,677 and Max: PlayStation 2 Gaming fell by 34.9% during the same period to 13,175.
Things were more positive for magazines relating to Microsoft’s XBox. FXM International’s Official UK Xbox Magazine saw circulation rise by an impressive 43.1% year on year to 82,732 and Highbury Entertainment’s XBM increased by 9.6% during the same period to 30,036. However, its sister title, Xpert, dipped by 19.1% year on year to 8,936.
Dennis Publishing’s Computer and Video Games, which covers consoles, PCs, handhelds and the internet, saw circulation dip by 15.8% year on year to 27,810. Meanwhile, Future’s multi-format Gamesmaster declined by 17.4% during the same period to 53,902 despite comprehensive coverage of games for PSX, PS2, Nintendo and PCs.
| Gaming Magazines: Jul-Dec 2003 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 02 | Jul-Dec 03 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| Computer and Video Games | Dennis Publishing | 33,033 | 27,810 | -5,223 | -15.8 |
| Edge | Future Publishing | 28,126 | 27,318 | -808 | -2.9 |
| Games Master | Future Publishing | 65,231 | 53,902 | -11,329 | -17.4 |
| NGC Magazine | Future Publishing | 38,539 | 27,058 | -11,481 | -29.8 |
| Nintendo Official Magazine | Emap Active | 51,096 | 50,245 | -851 | -1.7 |
| Official Playstation 2 | Future Publishing | 197,348 | 188,322 | -9,026 | -4.6 |
| Official Playstation Magazine | Future Publishing | 50,185 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Official UK Xbox Magazine | FXM International | 57,809 | 82,732 | 24,923 | 43.1 |
| P2 | Highbury Entertainment | 21,083 | 19,550 | -1,533 | -7.3 |
| PC Gamer | Future Publishing | 76,059 | 64,070 | -11,989 | -15.8 |
| PC Zone | Dennis Publishing | 51,088 | 45,018 | -6,070 | -11.9 |
| Play | Highbury Entertainment | 58,553 | 57,060 | -1,493 | -2.5 |
| Playstation 2 Special Edition | Future Publishing | 41,804 | 22,677 | -19,127 | -45.8 |
| Playstation 2 Official Tips | Future Publishing | 22,020 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Max: Playstation 2 Gaming (was Playstation 2 Max) | Future Publishing | 20,249 | 13,175 | -7,074 | -34.9 |
| Playstation World | Computec Media | 76,293 | 66,525 | -9,768 | -12.8 |
| PSM2 | Future Publishing | 70,049 | 43,684 | -26,365 | -37.6 |
| XBM | Highbury Entertainment | 27,393 | 30,036 | 2,643 | 9.6 |
| XBox Gamer | FXM International | 23,033 | 20,573 | -2,460 | -10.7 |
| Xbox World (N) | Future Publishing | n/a | 22,310 | n/a | n/a |
| Xpert | Highbury Entertainment | 11,051 | 8,936 | -2,115 | -19.1 |
| Total | 1,020,042 | 871,001 | -149,041 | -14.6 | |
Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive