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What's On TV produced the standout performance in the sector,

consolidating its position at the top, absorbing a 3p cover price

increase to 45p, and recovering the ground lost when H Bauer's TV Choice

launched last year.

Meanwhile TV Choice, which consolidated its position despite a slight

year-on- year decline, continues to impact on sales across the market,

along with the continued improvement of newspaper TV supplements and

free listings guides.

The more highbrow titles continued to suffer despite relaunches. The

second-placed Radio Times increased its price by 6p during the period,

perhaps contributing to a 3.9 per cent drop in circulation year on

year.

TV Times continues its worrying decline, while the specialist soap

market is also struggling, with IPC's Soaplife and Attic Futura's All

About Soap particularly posting noticeable period-on-period losses.

The large gains posted by TV & Satellite Week reflects the increase in

digital TV in homes.

Verdict Highbrow titles, particularly the TV Times, are set to continue

their worrying decline, despite recent relaunches, but What's On TV

looks set to continue its reign at the top.

The broader listings incorporates the new TV technology and it is likely

that this figure will continue to rise as the digital medium grows in

popularity.

TV WEEKLIES

TITLE PUBLISHER TOTAL ABC Period on Year on

period % year

What's On TV IPC 1,709,092 0.5 0.1

Radio Times BBC 1,200,796 -5.0 -3.9

TV Choice H Bauer 751,618 2.6 -4.2

TV Times IPC 636,951 -7.6 -9.7

TV Quick H Bauer 511,737 -7.5 -11.6

TV & Satellite Week IPC 250,301 13.2 18.3

Inside Soap Attic Futura 243,633 1.0 -4.8

Soaplife IPC 114,218 -12.9 -8.0

All About Soap Attic Futura 102,704 -7.6 -15.2

Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations (Jan-June 2001).