Circulation went up 13 per cent year on year overall if Origin Publishing which BBC Magazines had acquired earlier this year was included. Subscriptions are up 15 per cent year on year including Origin.

Highlights of ABC figures for January to June 2004 include:

Good Homes reported an increase of 13 per cent year on year

Eve which the Beeb claims is the UK's fastest growing women's glossy for the third consecutive period saw a circulation rise of 14 per cent

As had been reported earlier by indiantelevision.com, BBC Magazines signed an agreement with The Times Group to set up a joint venture company to publish magazines in India. Dwelling on the latest results, BBC Magazines MD Peter Phippen added, "This has been one of the most exciting periods in BBC Magazines' history, not only because it saw the acquisition of Origin Publishing as our new specialist arm but also, because, we rose to the challenge of new competition in Food and Gardening, extended our presence in the Women's and Children's sectors. We also strengthened our market leadership in Motoring."

BBC Magazines' Top Gear claims to be the market leader in the motoring segment for the 21st consecutive period. Subscriptions are up 30 per cent year on year

Meanwhile, a new licensed edition of Top Gear magazine was launched in China this period. It will be joined next month by a Russian edition and before the end of the year by one in the Phillipines.

One of BBC Magazines' key offerings Radio Times was able to weather what has been an unusually difficult period in the paid-for listings sector. The beeb claimed that the publication had been able to post one of the smallest declines in the market, despite free and paid-for rivals investing huge amounts in major television advertising campaigns.

A couple of months ago Radio Times rolled out the largest direct marketing campaign in its history to almost one million homes in London and Manchester. This was a part of a targeted drive to attract new readers.