View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
October 19, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 9:30pm

The Business exceeds first week expectations

By Press Gazette

The Business got off to a strong start in its first week as a magazine, with subscription sales leading the way, according to its publisher.

The 10-year-old Sunday broadsheet, which went to A4 magazine size and switched its publication day to Thursday last week, kicked off its launch with 18,000 subscriptions — 8,000 more than initially expected, according to publisher Andrew Neil.

He said indications were that the magazine sold between 15,000 and 20,000 on the newsstand — with 20,000 as the hoped-for target.

About 10,000 went in overseas sales and 5,000 copies were sold to British Airways. The title has a current break-even circulation target of 60,000.

Neil said: "I'm feeling better about this than I ever did with the newspaper.

We were over budget in advertising in the first week, on budget this week, and over next week."

He added: "Subscription is definitely the key — it's the key to all magazines now. If you look at The Spectator, it has 42,000 subs and only about 13,000 newsstand sales. That's because we work hard to turn every newsstand buyer into a sub — and that will be the same policy with The Business."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network