22 Aug 2002 | Liz Jaques

ABC Follow-Up Report: Ads In Computer, Internet And Gaming Magazines

ABC results for the six-months ending June 2002 reveal a less than impressive period for the computer and internet sector (see ABC Jan – Jun 2002 Computer, Internet And Gaming Magazines). Dennis Publishing’s PC Pro, which saw circulation decline by 6.4% year on year, also saw the number of ads within its pages fall by 17.25% during the same period, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Computer Shopper, which is also owned by Dennis Publishing, added a 21.73% year on year decline in ads between January and June 2002 to a notable 8.6% year on year drop in circulation during the same period. Paragon’s Practical Internet saw circulation fall by 33.5% year on year during the first six months of 2002. However, the title only saw a slight 0.01% year on year decline in the number of ads it hosted during that time.

*Computer And Internet Magazines: Number Of Ads Jan-Jun 2001 – Jan-Jun 2002**
Title	Publisher	Jan-Jun 2001	Jan-Jun 2002	% Change
Computer Buyer	Dennis Publishing	258	270	4.65
Computer Shopper	Dennis Publishing	589	461	-21.73
Internet Made Easy	Paragon Publishing	146	103	-29.45
MacUser	Dennis Publishing	479	327	-31.73
PC Basics	Paragon Publishing	**	**	**
PC First Aid (launched 03/01)	Paragon Publishing	**	**	**
PC Home	Paragon Publishing	116	91	-21.55
PC Pro	Dennis Publishing	487	403	-17.25
Practical Internet	Paragon Publishing	158	155	-0.01
The Net (merged 11/01)	Haymarket Magazines	134	0	n/a
What Laptop and Handheld PC	Crimson Publishing	237	172	-27.43
Windows Made Easy	Paragon Publishing	**	**	**
Total		2,604	1,982	-23.89
* Includes display, advertorial, supplements. Excludes all inserts
** No data available

There was a significant amount of movement in the gaming sector, with ABC results for the first half of 2002 revealing a 137% year on year increase in circulation for Future Publishing’s Official PlayStation 2 Magazine. The title also increased the number of ads within its pages by a healthy 32.08% during the same period, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. However, Future’s Official PlayStation title added a 43.40% year on year decline in ads to a 44.1% year on year drop in circulation during the same period.

*Gaming Magazines: Number Of Ads Jan-Jun 2001 – Jan-Jun 2002**
Title	Publisher	Jan-Jun 2001	Jan-Jun 2002	% Change
Computer and Video Games	Dennis Publishing	88	105	19.32
Edge	Future Publishing	50	55	10.00
Games Master	Future Publishing	65	71	9.23
NGC Magazine	Future Publishing	47	52	10.64
Nintendo Official Magazine	Emap Active	71	63	-11.27
Official Dreamcast Magazine (closed 09/01)	Dennis Publishing	41	0	n/a
Official Playstation 2	Future Publishing	106	140	32.08
Official Playstation Magazine	Future Publishing	113	64	-43.40
Official UK Xbox Magazine	FXM International	**	**	**
P2	Paragon Publishing	173	102	-41.04
PC Gameplay Inc. PC Gaming World	Computec Media	**	**	**
PC Gamer	Future Publishing	148	153	3.38
PC Zone	Dennis Publishing	141	136	-3.55
Play	Paragon Publishing	158	163	3.16
Playnation	Dennis Publishing	68	71	4.41
Playstation 2 Special Edition	Future Publishing
Playstation Max	Future Publishing	56	60	7.14
Playstation World	Computec Media	**	**	**
PSM2	Future Publishing	76	0	n/a
X Gamer	FXM International	**	**	**
Total		1171	1401	19.64
* Includes display, advertorial, supplements. Excludes all inserts
** No data available