Fairfax Magazines retain loyal readership

Media Release 17 August 2007

Fairfax Magazines retain loyal readership

Fairfax Magazines is continuing to show its strength in lifestyle and specialist publishing, with more than 50% of New Zealanders over the age of 10 reading its magazines, according to the latest readership figures.

With several of its magazines recording increased readership, or continued dominance of their sectors, in the twelve months to June 2007, Fairfax Magazines general manager Lynley Belton said the readership figures confirmed that Fairfax’s magazines were well tuned in to their readers’ desires and expectations, providing products they came back to issue after issue.

Two stand-out performers were in the automotive sector, where NZ Trucking notched up an impressive 8.3% increase in readership over June 2006 — the biggest in the category. Stable mate NZ Autocar showed the biggest increase in readership for the category compared to the prior year, at 6.9%.

NZ Autocar is read by 170,000 Kiwis, and NZ Trucking is now read by 91,000.

With a massive 645,000 readers, NZ House & Garden maintained its position as New Zealand’s most-read home and garden title and was the only magazine in the category to increase its readership compared to the past year.

Fairfax Magazines also dominated the food sector, with Cuisine continuing to lead — its readership of 370,000 being 52% higher than the second-most-read title in the category. As well as gaining readers over the past 12 months, it has also seen growth in reader loyalty — 43% now read every issue of Cuisine.

NZ Gardener, New Zealand’s best-read gardening magazine, also showed impressive gains in readership loyalty, with more than 47% of its readers now seeing every issue — up from just over 42% a year ago.

And almost 72% of readers of New Zealand’s biggest selling magazine, TV Guide, are also reading every issue of the magazine.

Ms Belton said the June Nielson readership figures confirm what the circulation figures, released last month, showed — that our readers have very strong connections with our titles and that, through innovative and inspired editorial leadership the magazines are continuing to dominate their respective sectors.

“Our subscription levels are very strong and readership is growing for several magazines.

“That sort of market strength and readership loyalty is increasingly important in New Zealand’s highly competitive magazine market.”

Ends

© Scoop Media