ABC Results Jul-Dec 2004: Computer Shopper Takes The Lead As Rivals Falter

The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 17 February 2005. 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 computing sector looked bleak at the end of 2004, with all but Computer Shopper, which increased circulation to take the market lead, failing to achieve circulation growth.

The figures for the six months to December 2004 show Dennis Publishing-owned Computer Shopper notching up a 4.4% rise year on year to push its total to just under 108,000 and ensuring that it took the market lead from fellow Dennis title, PC Pro. However, the two title’s position is closely fought, with just 58 copies separating their overall circulations.

The largest downturn of the sector was made by Personal Computer World, owned by VNU Publishing, which lost 22.6% of its total circulation in the last half of 2004. The poor performance amongst the computing market was not confined to PC-centric magazines, however, as Dennis’ MacUser also suffered a substantial downturn, shedding nearly 3,000 from its total to see a 12.3% decline.

The nation’s gaming titles were more positive, although only a handful of titles managed to secure circulation increases towards the end of the year.

Future Publishing’s Official Playstation 2 magazine remains the market leader, capitalising on the popularity of games consoles. However, an 8.4% downturn year on year in circulation could be the beginning of the end for the title, with the successor to the Playstation 2 due to be announced later this year.

Elsewhere, Future’s NGC Magazine suffered the largest dip in circulation, shedding 38.6% year on year, yet another indication that console audiences are tiring of their current platforms and eagerly awaiting the next generation of products.

However, PC-based games audiences looked similarly downbeat at the end of 2004, with PC Gamer shedding 11% year on year to 57,023, while Future’s newly acquired PCZone suffered a 10.1% dip to 40,480 (see Future Network Buys Games Mags For £2.5 Million).

Future’s PSM2 magazine recorded the largest circulation rise of all the gaming titles in the last six months of 2004, adding 24.6% year on year, while the publisher’s more generic Games Master title increased its total by 15.3% in the same period.

ABC: 01442 200 732 www.abc.org.uk

Recent Magazine Stories from NewsLine Emap Appoints International Director To Boost FHM Brand Future Appoints Marketing Head For Aggressive Strategy New Emap Advertising Director Gives Focus On Luxury

Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive