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August 13, 2015

Digital magazine ABCs: Economist and lads’ mags on the up, mixed fortunes for celeb titles

By William Turvill

The Economist's UK digital edition grew its circulation by 225.8 per cent year on year in the first half of 2015, according to ABC. (Picture: Shutterstock)

Of the 90 digital editions audited by ABC for this period, 37 saw their circulations fall from the first half of 2014.

Celebrity magazines Now (down 40.8 per cent to 1,137), Reveal (down 36.8 per cent to 954), OK (down 32.5 per cent to 4,998), New (down 28.5 per cent to 3,561) and Hello (down 27.3 per cent to 4,792) were among the worst performing.

Other titles to see their digital circulations fall included Cosmopolitan (down 25.1 per cent to 4,905), Empire (down 12.5 per cent to 11,443), Men's Health (down 12 per cent to 9,113) and Women's Health (down 11.6 per cent to 5,261).

Unlike the celebrity titles above, Closer (up 93.1 per cent to 2,472) and Heat (up 76 per cent to 2,135) were among the best performing.

Lads' mags FHM and Zoo saw their digital circulations increase by 61.4 per cent to 5,486 and 57.1 per cent to 3,214 respectively.

Below is a full list of digital editions audited by ABC.

Digital title Average circulation, January-June 2015 Y/Y % change
The Economist – United Kingdom Edition 70,953 225.8
The Economist – Asia Pacific Edition 39,399 77.5
The Economist – Continental Europe Edition 34,101 52.1
BBC Top Gear Magazine 14,562 7.4
Empire 11,443 -12.5
GQ 11,300 -0.5
Slimming World Magazine 10,970 -5.6
BBC Good Food 10,258 -6.7
Men's Health 9,113 -12
Vogue 8,399 5.6
Wired 7,692 -5.5
Vanity Fair 6,817 -15.6
National Geographic Magazine 6,555
FHM 5,486 61.4
Women's Health 5,261 -11.6
Esquire 5,195 -8.5
The Economist – Middle East/Africa Edition 5,135 53.1
OK! Magazine 4,998 -32.5
Cosmopolitan 4,905 -25.1
HELLO! 4,792 -27.3
Elle Decoration 4,694 -20.2
Grazia 4,681 18.2
Living etc 4,285 17.3
Lonely Planet Traveller 4,083 45
Woman & Home 3,990 20.1
Glamour 3,944 -15.3
Red 3,922 7
Elle (U.K.) 3,849 -20.8
Investors Chronicle 3,645
New! 3,561 -28.5
Good Housekeeping 3,558 5.9
Grand Designs 3,323 -13.1
Zoo 3,214 57.1
Psychologies Magazine 3,208 25.7
Olive 3,095 47.7
Jamie Magazine 3,011 9.7
Q 2,894 28.2
Country Living 2,804 12
Harpers Bazaar 2,801 -11.4
BBC Gardeners' World 2,780 30.3
Closer 2,472 93.1
Country Homes and Interiors 2,453 45.9
Look 2,274 -13
Tatler 2,247 26.2
Inside Soap 2,225 -24.7
What's on TV 2,160 18.9
Heat 2,135 76
Homes & Gardens 2,127 16
Marie Claire 2,074 -0.3
Uncut 2,065 34.1
BBC Easy Cook 1,874 89.3
Ideal Home 1,851 1.9
House & Garden 1,786 -6.6
Health & Fitness 1,652 -35.5
Conde Nast Traveller 1,551 3.5
Prospect 1,534
Octane 1,479 0.1
Doctor Who Magazine 1,350 -2
World Of Interiors 1,341 -6.6
Top Sante Health & Beauty 1,328
25 Beautiful Homes 1,279 24.5
Instyle UK 1,235 -29.1
Chat 1,154 -7.1
House Beautiful 1,143 13.2
Now 1,137 -40.8
Women's Fitness 1,097 -29.9
Land Rover Monthly 1,094 2.9
TV & Satellite Week 1,072 20.6
Style at Home 1,025 -13.4
Reveal 954 -36.8
Star 930 -31.2
Prima 882 25.3
Woman 870 -8.6
Your Home 866 -3.5
Prima Baby 850 7.1
Essentials 789 14
Woman's Own 764 1.2
Saga Magazine 716 6.7
Good Homes 710
Pick Me Up 527 -11.6
All About Soap 512 -32.5
Soaplife 511 43.5
Good Things 489
Woman's Weekly 476 20.8
The People's Friend 400 81
Real People 378 26.4
Best 350 42.9
TV Times 315 8.2
HELLO! Fashion Monthly 177
Gurgle Magazine 58 -87.2

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