Immediate Media Co posts strong debut ABCs
Annual growth of 0.2%, subscriptions up 5.4% to over 1 million, Pre-school up 24.1%.
Immediate Media Company’s debut ABC results show annual growth, with a strong overall circulation figure of 3,354,226 for July-December 2011, up 0.2% year on year and up 8.9% period on period. This growth is driven by a portfolio of quality brands, along with strong debut ABCs and an increase in subscriptions, which are up 5.4% year on year to 1,007,171.
Immediate Media Co was formed on 1 November 2011 following the merger of BBC Magazines, Origin Publishing and Magicalia, so these are the first ABC results for titles published under the Immediate Media Co banner. The company publishes a range of wholly-owned titles and websites, as well as contract and licensed brands on behalf of clients, including BBC Worldwide.
Immediate Media Co CEO, Tom Bureau said: “Delivering year on year growth in these ABCs really highlights the strength of Immediate Media Co’s portfolio, and we are very pleased with the results. We are focused on a brand-led, cross-media strategy with magazines as a key component. We are excited about the future.”
The highlights of Immediate Media Co’s ABC results for July-December 2011 include:
- An excellent performance across its pre-school portfolio, up 24.1% year on year (y-o-y). This includes excellent growth across the CBeebies portfolio including CBeebies Art, at 63,679, (up 23.4% y-o-y), and from CBeebies Weekly, at 55,516, up 2.2% y-o-y, as well as a strong debut from Octonauts magazine at 61,750, CBeebies Weekly remains the UK’s top children’s title in terms of circulation;
- Radio Times retains its market-leading position as the UK’s best-selling quality magazine, with a weekly circulation of 925,373. Radio Times is the third biggest selling magazine in the UK magazine market, and with subscriptions up 12.0% year on year to a record 213, 129, it continues to be the biggest selling UK weekly magazine by subscription;
- A very strong set of results from specialist factual titles, including BBC History, up 4.2% y-o-y at 72,271; Homes & Antiquesis also up 5.9% y-o-y at 64,563;
- Gardeners’ World Magazine delivers annual growth of 2.0%, at 216,620, retaining its market-leading position;
- Top Gear and Good Food deliver robust performances and retain their market-leading positions at 180,208 and 313,009 respectively; Lonely Planetis stable year on year, at 60,125, retaining its position as the largest actively purchased title in the market;
- The World of Cross Stitching becomes the No.1 title in its sector at 40,764, up 6.6% year on year. Our three other audited craft titles also post increases, notably
- Quick Cards Made Easy (18,637), up 9.2% year on year;
- Hair Ideas retains its no.1 position as the UK’s best-selling hair magazine at 53,690;
- A robust debut from Perfect Wedding magazine at 22,074;
- Immediate Media Co now has over 1 million subscriptions (1,007,171, up 5.4% year on year), placing the company in the number one position in terms of subscriptions among UK publishers.
Notes to Editors:
All year on year figs are rounded to up one decimal point.
Subscriptions to Immediate Media Co’s titles increased by 5.4% year on year and 1.6% period on period (based on like-for-like total subscriptions for all titles previously submitted by BBC Magazines, Origin Publishing and Magicalia in Jul-Dec11, Jan-Jun11 and Jul-Dec10 ABCs).
Immediate Media Co was formed on 1 November 2011 following the merger of BBC Magazines, Origin Publishing and Magicalia. With an exciting mix of market-leading brands, great talent and technology expertise, the company combines a strong publishing heritage with digital platforms and entrepreneurial flair. Its wholly-owned brands include Radio Times, olive, Homes & Antiques and highly successful specialist titles including Focus, Perfect Wedding and Junior. It publishes Top Gear, Good Food, EasyCook and Lonely Planet magazine on behalf of BBC Worldwide and a number of other titles, including BBC History, Gardeners’ World and the CBeebies portfolio, under licence. The company also publishes leading digital brands such as MadeForMums.com, loveyourhair.com and visordown.com. With 750 staff in London and Bristol, Immediate Media Co has over 1 million subscribers, a brand reach of 11 million UK consumers and revenues of £150m per annum. It is owned by Exponent Private Equity.
For further information please contact:
Sarah Williams-Robbins, Director of Communications, Immediate Media Co on 0208 433 3256