France

France's vertically integrated Disney Hachette Presse has registered growth virtually across its entire product line. The OJD, the official organization which controls magazine circulation figures, confirmed sales of 18 million copies sold in France in 1994 for all titles, and more than 20 million copies sold including export. That is 50% more than the closest competitor. Sales in 1994 over the previous year were up 22% for the toddler title, Bambi; up 14% for Winnie, geared to three- to six-year-olds; and up 10% for P'tit Loup targeting seven- to ten-year-olds. The weekly Journal De Mickey for eight- to 13-year-olds sells 206,000 copies and Picsou, the Monthly, sells 237,000 copies.

In terms of market position, DHP scores again, with six of the top eight children's magazines under the DHP imprint. Readership figures from early 1995 indicate that 802,000 children ages eight to 13 read the Journal de Mickey regularly, while 900,000 read Picsou. In the education segment, P'tit Loup wins hands down as market leader with 465,000 readers aged eight to 13 -- a 120% increase over the latest figures from 1992. The secret of DHP's success: knowing their readers. All French Disney-Hachette Presse (DHP) magazines are distributed in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada, Spain and Overseas French Territories. Hachette, in the Press field, is
the second biggest company in the world (so in terms of magazines and newspapers). DHP is a joint venture between Disney and Hachette, 51% being owned by Disney and 49% by Hachette. An other company, called Hachette Disney Presse (51% owned by Hachette, 49% by Disney) publishes the non-Disney comics titles (like Cousteau Junior, ...). Hachette is the publishing part of Groupe Lagardere and is one of the main French editors (in fact it is the second biggest French editor behind Groupe de la Cite). It had a 6,3 billion French Francs (about 1,25 billion $) in 1993 and 8000 employees. It has activities in every market segment of the publishing sector.