Hachette Filipacchi To Merge CD:UK And TVhits!

Hachette Filipacchi is to merge CD:UK with TVhits! just 18 months after the magazine’s launch.

CD:UK launched last April as a spin-off of ITV1’s popular Saturday morning television show. The magazine only ever recorded one ABC circulation figure, for the January to June 2002 period, of 138,122.

The newly-merged title will be called TVhits! and will continue under the editorial directorship of Pauline Haldane. According to Hachette, eight editorial positions will be affected by the merger, but all staff will be offered alternative positions.

Vivien Cotterill, managing director of Hachette Filipacchi UK, commented: “The merger of CD:UK and TVhits! sees Hachette consolidating its share of the highly competitive teen pop market, which has suffered a further decline of 20% this year.”

The whole teen magazine sector has been under pressure recently and the latest ABC results for January to June 2002, show that the majority of teen titles have seen circulation decline.

TVhits! reported a 5.3% year on year decrease during the first half of 2002, bringing its circulation to 143,289, down from 152,252 in the same period the previous year. Commentators have suggested that the increasing popularity of mobile phones and text messaging has diverted much-needed pocket money from the beleaguered teenage sector.

Despite its demise as a stand-alone title, more CD:UK brand extensions are planned for the future, including the CD:UK music awards next year.

Hachette recently acquired women’s glossy Red, and has confirmed plans to launch the title internationally (see Hachette Plans International Launch For Red).

Hachette Filipacchi: www.hachette-filipacchi.com

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