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Summary of our market study
In France, magazine and periodical publishers generate sales of around 5 billion euros.
The global magazine market is in decline in Europe and the United States, where there has been a shift from print to digital consumption, affecting both circulation and advertising revenues.
The French market reflects this trend, with paid circulation down for the magazine press. Sales for magazine and periodical publishers are around 5 billion euros.
Despite this downturn, the French still show a strong attachment to the written press.
Trends in the French magazine market
The traditional print magazine format is in decline, with new generations opting for digital content rather than physical copies. Paid circulation in France has fallen by around 30% in 7 years.
The adoption of digital alternatives is not yet generating comparable revenues, and means a period of uncertainty and adjustment for advertisers. These financial challenges are part of a wider global trend, with major Western markets recording an average annual decline of 5.5%.
Despite these challenges, the French remain committed to the written press.
Between 95 and 100% of French people read the press every month, and more than three-quarters read digital articles. Digital magazines are booming. The sector's main players are diversifying into podcasts and video-on-demand platforms.
Television-related publications lead the way, with "TV Magazine" having a circulation of over 4 million.
Direct subscriptions and digital formats are gaining ground, accounting for more than half of magazine circulation. Physical outlets account for 37% of sales.
Fashion and automotive magazines exert a substantial influence on older, more affluent consumers.
Players in the French magazine publishing market
- SFR Presse Distribution: Known for distributing a variety of magazine titles, SFR Presse Distribution stands out in the French magazine landscape for its comprehensive selection encompassing diverse interests and sectors, including well-known titles such as "Ici Paris".
- CMI Publishing: Headquartered in Levallois Perret, CMI Publishing is a leading publisher with a portfolio of well-known magazine titles, including "Télé 7 jours", "Public", "Elle", "Femina", "Marianne" and "Arts et Décorations". These publications focus on entertainment, celebrity news, art and culture, and offer readers a wide variety of content.
- Prisma Media: Prisma Media, another big name in the industry, boasts a strong line-up of popular magazines such as "GEO" and "Femme actuelle". The publisher has established itself as a go-to source for lifestyle, travel and current affairs content.
- Reworld Media Magazines: Reworld Media Magazines recently made headlines with its acquisition of Mondadori France. Its range of titles such as "Grazia", "Biba", "Marie-France", "AutoPlus" and "Le journal de la Maison" appeal to a wide audience, in line with its mission to provide content that resonates with contemporary readers.
- Bayard Presse: Specializing in a somewhat different niche, Bayard Presse targets seniors with "Notre Temps" and has forged a strong market position with religious and lifestyle publications, including "La Croix".
- Lexisnexis: Focusing more on specialized content, Lexisnexis publishes titles such as "La semaine juridique" - an essential resource for legal professionals - and comprehensive references such as the "Code du travail".
- France Messagerie: Representing a key change in distribution, France Messagerie embodies the new era of French press distribution, with a focus on optimizing flows between editeurs et les commerçants, playing a key role in ensuring that magazines reach their readers efficiently, whether via print or digital.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of the study
A magazine is a press format for periodical publication, often illustrated. Magazines can cover a wide range of subjects, but are characterized by a precise editorial line. It is structured around an active community of readers, and is distributed by subscription as well as for individual sale.
The players in the magazine market in France are editors, printers, publishers, distributors and newsagents (press houses, newsstands, supermarkets, etc.)
The global market is in decline. Western markets, the main readers of magazines, are going through a difficult period. The magazine format is declining in popularity, particularly among the younger generation, who prefer other online formats. At the same time, the sector has begun a transition to digital distribution, a segment that is becoming increasingly dynamic.
This decline is also affecting the French market. Paid circulation (number of sales to broadcasters) fell by 30% between 2012 and 2019. Publishers' advertising revenues are also in decline, and the transition to digital is generating losses among advertisers who are not yet convinced by the new formats.
The market is therefore in a state of flux, with changing formats and a changing publishing landscape: major publishing groups are focusing on diversifying into podcasts and video/TV-on-demand platforms. What's more, demand is still there, only the way it's reached is changing.
It's also important to put the downturn in the sector into perspective, and remember that the French still have a strong attachment to the printed press. So we can only hope that the sector will regain momentum once its transformation is complete.
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