FOCUS - EUROPE: Emap proves itself star of the publishing pack

Emap Elan has reason to feel satisfied with the latest round of ABC figures, with a 2.7 per cent of year-on-year increase overall, with its mass-market titles holding up well in the women's and men's sectors. The flagship title, FHM, stretched its lead in the men's sector, providing one of the few success stories in a largely flat market, Elle made significant gains against Vogue, while the relaunched heat racked up a 45.2 per cent year-on-year increase, burying doubts as to the title's long term viability. Among Emap's mass-market competitors, the National Magazine Company suffered losses for titles She, Cosmopolitan and Company, but kept its market position over-all. Conde Nast held steady. The performance of IPC varied greatly across different mass-market sector. What's On TV maintained a strong position at the top of the listings sector, despite the arrival of TV Choice. IPC Connect needed significant bulk figures to help stabilise the fortunes of Woman and Woman's Own. However, Now pulled in a good result, pushing itself closer to the duelling OK! Magazine and Hello!. Woman's Journal maintained its circulation climb, although despite a big marketing push, Marie Claire failed to overtake Cosmopolitan. IPC's most disappointing performance was in the men's sector, where Loaded and Later both suffered losses. The most dramatic increase in market share came from H Bauer, thanks to TV Choice's debut ABC of more than 700,000 which rocked the TV listings market and offset a disappointing set of results for Bella and Take A Break. The losses suffered by Radio Times headed a disappointing set of results for BBC Worldwide, Top of the Pops' posted a small increase on the back of its relaunch, but the slumping fortunes of Live & Kicking followed its TV sibling, while BBC Homes and Antiques struggled in a declining market. Robust performances by niche titles boosted the results of Future and Dennis Publishing and fuelled speculation that the specialisation of audiences is strangling the mass-market. However, the deputy managing director of NatMags, Duncan Edwards, was keen to play down any shift towards smaller titles. "Our interest remains at the volume end of the market," he said, "A collection of twigs doesn't make a log."

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