The explosion of new TV channels, magazines and new media over the last
five years means the media no longer has a ‘locked-in’ set of customers
said IPC SouthBank Group managing director Chris Boyd.
‘Consumers are bombarded by choice,’ Boyd told the conference. ‘Our
products should reflect these changes.’
According to Boyd’s figures, 228 magazines launched last year. Of those
116 folded, resulting in the fact that there are now 2,165 magazines in
the UK. The UK’s 13 national daily and 12 Sunday newspapers now print 85
sections, compared to 40 supplements just five years ago. There are now
40 BSkyB channels, seven GSkyB channels, Channel Five is expected to
launch around March and digital TV is only a year away.
He said IPC spends around pounds 3 million a year on readership
research.
