Pricing continues to be the key driver of sales in the TV listings
sector, which saw IPC's market leading What's On TV fall 3.3% in the
period following a three pence price increase in September.
H Bauer's TV Choice, whose cut-price launch in 1999 led to a wave of
price slashing, was the beneficiary seeing its sales rise 4.2% in the
period and 7% year on year. TV Choice is now five pence cheaper than
What's On TV.
"The past six months have been about getting What's On TV back to a
sensible publishing model," said IPC tx managing director Caroline Ward.
She claimed the loss in sales was more than offset by a 9% increase in
ad revenues.
The premium price end of the market continues to suffer, with Radio
Times, TV Times and TV Quick all experiencing significant year-on-year
decreases.
TV & Satellite Week recorded the biggest growth, up 11.6% year on year,
although a 1.4% decrease in the past six months reflected a slowing in
digital television penetration.
TV soap magazines, benefiting from more dramatic soap storylines,
rebounded after poor results last time.
TOP FIVE RADIO AND TV GUIDES
Magazine Dec end 2001 Dec end 2000 Y/Y % change
1 What's On TV 1,652,138 1,701,064 -2.9
2 Radio Times 1,200,615 1,264,315 -5.0
3 TV Choice 783,240 732,259 7.00
4 TV Times 627,095 689,137 -9.0
5 TV Quick 483,349 553,148 -12.6
TOP THREE SATELLITE AND CABLE
Magazine Dec end 2001 Dec end 2000 Y/Y % change
1 Sky Cust Mag 5,183,694 3,873,637 33.8
2 Cable Guide 669,436 1,148,883 -41.7
3 Zap 497,282 202,978 136.8
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