ABC Results Jul-Dec 2005:Teen Sector Down In The Mouth At End Of 2005
The notoriously fickle teen sector looked glum in the six months to December, according to the latest ABC results, with all but one title seeing a downturn in circulation year on year.
DC Thompson’s Shout magazine was the only title to increase sales on the same period in 2004, adding 10.3% year on year to total 74,409 in the face of a downbeat market overall.
Elsewhere, the heaviest casualty in the teen sector was BBC Magazines’ Top Of The Pops, shedding 51.9% to push its total sales down to 96,576, a drop of more than 100,000 copies in real terms.
The Corporation’s It’s Hot magazine also suffered, losing 36.7% in the same period to see its total circulation rest at 64,321, its lowest ever figure.
Elsewhere Emap saw a predicably disappointing year on year performance from Smash Hits, with a decline of 26.7% for the title, which announced its closure earlier this month (see Smash Hits To Close As Music Fans Move Online). However, Emap’s Bliss moves into the top spot, despite a dip of 2.8%, ahead of Hachette Filipacchi’s Sugar, which saw a fall of 15%, down to 250,099.
| Teenage Magazines: Jul-Dec 2005 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 04 | Jul-Dec 05 | Actual Change | %Ch |
| Bliss | Emap Elan | 285,061 | 277,165 | -7,896 | -2.8 |
| Brat | Globalclub Limited | n/a | 8,759 | ||
| CosmoGirl! | National Magazine Company | 213,311 | 173,135 | -40,176 | -18.8 |
| It’s Hot | BBC Magazines | 101,547 | 64,321 | -37,226 | -36.7 |
| Mizz | IPC Media | 70,320 | 60,425 | -9,895 | -14.1 |
| Shout | DC Thompson & Co | 67,466 | 74,409 | 6,943 | 10.3 |
| Smash Hits | Emap Performance | 126,100 | 92,398 | -33,702 | -26.7 |
| Sneak | Emap | 90,946 | 74,299 | -16,647 | -18.3 |
| Sugar | Hachette Filipacchi | 295,364 | 250,099 | -45,265 | -15.3 |
| Top Of The Pops | BBC Magazines | 200,907 | 96,576 | -104,331 | -51.9 |
| TV Hits | Hachette Filipacchi | 103,658 | 63,644 | -40,014 | -38.6 |
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 16 February 2006. 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