ABC Results Jan-Jun 2005:Bliss Looks Hopeful In Struggling Teen Sector
The notoriously fickle teenage market saw a large number of titles suffering negative circulation growth in the six months to June, with only Emap’s Bliss managing to buck the trend for decline.
The title added a respectable 7.4% to its circulation year on year, which now totals 276,253. The title, which underwent a revamp in the second half of last year (see Bliss Gets A Facelift To Compete In Tricky Teen Market), added just over 19,000 copies to its sales total in real terms – an impressive achievement in the face of an otherwise depressed market.
Emap stablemate, Smash Hits also did well to stave off serious decline, and although the title suffered a 0.1% downturn year on year, its misfortune was comparatively slight compared with others in the sector. Smash Hits total circulation now stands at 120,541.
BBC Magazines’ Top Of The Pops suffered the largest reader exodus, shedding over a third of its sales year on year as its 35% decline translated to almost 77,000 copies in real terms.
The National Magazine Company’s CosmoGirl was also hard hit, shedding 18.3% from its circulation total to sit at 163,602.
Meanwhile, Hachette’s market-leading Sugar saw its circulation dip by 3.4% to total 285,082.
| Teenage Magazines: Jan-Jun 2005 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jan-Jun 04 | Jan-Jun 05 | Actual Change | %Ch |
| Bliss | Emap Elan | 257,162 | 276,253 | 19,091 | 7.4 |
| CosmoGirl! | National Magazine Company | 200,168 | 163,602 | -36,566 | -18.3 |
| It’s Hot | BBC Magazines | 91,495 | 82,199 | -9,296 | -10.2 |
| Mizz | IPC Media | 78,158 | 66,571 | -11,587 | -14.8 |
| Shout | DC Thompson & Co | 68,257 | 67,354 | -903 | -1.3 |
| Smash Hits | Emap Performance | 120,701 | 120,541 | -160 | -0.1 |
| Sneak | Emap | 92,368 | 80,077 | -12,291 | -13.3 |
| Sugar | Hachette Filipacchi | 295,009 | 285,082 | -9,927 | -3.4 |
| Top Of The Pops | BBC Magazines | 216,954 | 140,192 | -76,762 | -35.4 |
| TV Hits | Hachette Filipacchi | 100,377 | 84,463 | -15,914 | -15.9 |
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