16 Aug 2002 | Liz Jaques

ABC Jan – Jun 2002 Computer, Gaming And Internet Magazines

The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 15 August 2002. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database. For full notes on how NewsLine’s reports are compiled please see Important Notes: ABC Jan-Jun 2002

ABC results for the six month period ending in June 2002 bring less than impressive news for the computer and internet magazines sector, which saw circulation decline by 23.5% year on year. The sector’s highest circulating titles, both owned by Dennis Publishing, saw significant downward movement, with PC Pro slipping 6.4% year on year to 126,550 and Computer Shopper dropping 8.6% to 121,153.

Paragon Publishing’s Practical Internet suffered the sharpest decline, with circulation falling 33.5% to 11,605, down from 17,459 in the same period the previous year. Paragon’s PC Basics was the only title to see circulation rise, experiencing a healthy 13.6% increase to 18,013.

Computer And Internet Magazines Jan 02-Jun 02 ABC YoY Comparisons
Title	Publisher	Jan 01 – Jun 01	Jan 02 – Jun 02	Actual Change	% Ch
Computer Buyer	Dennis Publishing	48,061	40,329	-7,732	-16.1
Computer Shopper	Dennis Publishing	132,519	121,153	-11,366	-8.6
Internet Made Easy	Paragon Publishing	22,266	17,864	-4,402	-19.8
MacUser	Dennis Publishing	29,196	26,061	-3,135	-10.7
PC Basics	Paragon Publishing	15,861	18,013	2,152	13.6
PC First Aid (N)	Paragon Publishing	n/a		n/a	n/a
PC Home	Paragon Publishing	19,363	19,034	-329	-1.7
PC Pro	Dennis Publishing	135,192	126,550	-8,642	-6.4
Practical Internet	Paragon Publishing	17,459	11,605	-5,854	-33.5
The Net (M)*	Haymarket Magazines	51,355	n/a	n/a	n/a
What Laptop And Handheld PC*	Crimson Publishing	26,055	n/a	n/a	n/a
Windows Made Easy	Paragon Publishing	15,492	11,650	-3,842	-24.8
Total		512,819	392,259	-120,560	-23.5
* Had not reported by the time of 14 August release

There was a significant amount of movement in the gaming sector, which saw circulation rise by 14.3% year on year. Once again titles attached to newer consoles benefited at the expense of those relating to older ones. This was made clear in the case of Future Publishing’s Official Playstation 2 magazine, which experienced a 137% rise in circulation to 195,293, while its Official Playstation magazine saw a 44.1% year on year decline to 74,383.

The sector also benifited from the launch of FXM International’s Official UK Xbox Magazine, which reported a initial circulation of 38,409, while its X Gamer title debuted at 33,484.

Gaming Magazines Jan 02 – Jun 02 ABC YoY Comparisons
Title	Publisher	Jan 01 – Jun 01	Jan 02 – Jun 02	Actual Change	% Ch
Computer and Video Games	Dennis Publishing	30,055	32,052	1,997	6.6
Edge	Future Publishing	25,948	31,063	5,115	19.7
Games Master	Future Publishing	44,853	58,656	13,803	30.8
NGC Magazine	Future Publishing	34,120	30,626	-3,494	-10.2
Nintendo Official Magazine	Emap Active	58,135	42,014	-16,121	-27.7
Official Dreamcast Magazine(C)	Dennis Publishing	46,294	n/a	n/a	n/a
Official Playstation 2	Future Publishing	82,109	195,293	113,184	137.8
Official Playstation Magazine	Future Publishing	133,168	74,383	-58,785	-44.1
Official UK Xbox Magazine (N)	FXM International	n/a	38,409	n/a	n/a
P2 (R)	Paragon Publishing	18,417	22,206	3,789	20.6
PC Gameplay Inc. PC Gaming World	Computec Media	35,589	30,331	-5,258	-14.8
PC Gamer	Future Publishing	73,695	80,413	6,718	9.1
PC Zone	Dennis Publishing	62,071	56,457	-5,614	-9.0
Play	Paragon Publishing	62,805	60,139	-2,666	-4.2
Playnation (N)	Dennis Publishing	n/a		n/a	n/a
Playstation 2 Special Edition (N)	Future Publishing	n/a	39,404	n/a	n/a
Playstation Max	Future Publishing	32,391	24,779	-7,612	-23.5
Playstation World	Computec Media	79,080	89,273	10,193	12.9
PSM2	Future Publishing	44,543	81,464	36,921	82.9
X Gamer (N)	FXM International	n/a	33,484	n/a	n/a
Total		863,273	986,962	123,689	14.3