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February 16, 2012updated 12 Sep 2012 3:55pm

Mag ABCs: Trebles all round for Private Eye at 50

By Dominic Ponsford

Trebles all round – as Private Eye might put it – the fortnightly satirical magazine increased sales by 10 per cent year on year to 228,112 in the second half of last year, according to ABC.

The performance made it the best-selling UK current affairs title again (ahead of The Economist on paid-for sales). And it is believed to be the Eye's best sales performance in 25 years – possibly benefiting from the promotional activity surrounding its 50th anniversary.

Former Private Eye editor Richard Ingrams also had reason to celebrate, his monthly title The Oldie grew 6.4 per cent year on year to 41,008.

MoneyWeek was the fastest growing title in a generally healthy news and current affairs sector – up 10.7 per cent to 50,036.

Private Eye editor Ian Hislop commented: '10 per cent growth in a year, I feel like the chancellor – in his dreams".

 

Managing director Sheila Molnar added: 'It has been an amazing year for the Eye. The publicity that our 50th anniversary generated, the V&A exhibition, publication of the A-Z of Private Eye – The first 50 years, has had an enormous impact on sales.

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"The first question I am always asked is 'What is the secret of the Eye's success?' Simply, the magazine is entertaining, informative, and very reasonably priced at £1.50."

UK current affairs magazine circulation for the second half of 2011 (source ABC)

Name of title (publisher): Average circulation; change year on year

  • The Economist – Continental Europe Edition ( The Economist Newspaper Ltd ) : 241,726 ; 0.4%
  • Private Eye ( Pressdram Ltd ) : 228,112 ; 10.1%
  • The Economist – United Kingdom Edition ( The Economist Newspaper Ltd ) : 210,384 ; 0.1%
  • The Week ( Dennis Publishing Limited ) : 187,536 ; 3.9%
  • Newsweek – Europe Edition ( Harman Newsweek LLC ) : 185,015 ; 0.4%
  • Time Magazine – British Isles (BI) ( Time Warner Publishing Bv ) : 128,373 ; 2.0%
  • Fortune Magazine – Europe ( Time Warner Publishing Bv ) : 101,419 ; -7.1%
  • New Scientist – Worldwide Sales Excluding Australasia & US/Canada ( Reed Business Information Limited ) : 92,533 ; -4.8%
  • Business Life free ( Cedar Communications Limited ) : 84,117 ; -3.3%
  • BBC History Magazine ( Immediate Media Company ) : 72,271 ; 4.2%
  • Monocle ( Winkontent Ltd ) 68,917 ; 9.4%
  • Spectator : ( Spectator (1828) Ltd ) 63,543 ; -9.6%
  • MoneyWeek ( Moneyweek Ltd ) : 50,036 ; 10.7%
  • New African ( IC Publications Ltd ) : 44,117 ; -4.1%
  • The Oldie ( Oldie Publications Ltd ) : 41,008 ; 6.4%
  • Limerick Post ( Carnbeg Ltd ) : 35,393 ; 7.2%
  • Prospect ( Prospect Publishing Ltd ) : 32,105 ; 0.5%
  • Investors Chronicle ( FT Business ) : 26,753 ; -6.2%
  • African Business ( IC Publications Ltd ) : 24,290 ; 1.5%
  • BBC Sky at Night ( Immediate Media Company ) : 23,564 ; 7.2%
  • History Today ( History Today Ltd ) : 20,333 ; -1.2%

 

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