The magazine has been redesigned to tap into the new and growing audience for Countryfile, which has tripled its ratings since its move in April 2009 to a primetime slot on Sunday evenings, and now regularly achieves in excess of six million viewers per episode.
To better reflect the new-look show and to take full advantage of the growing popularity of the new line-up, the Countryfile presenters have been given more prominence within the magazine. Julia Bradbury will head up her own section, the redesigned Great Days Out; Countryfile’s resident farmer Adam Henson will reveal what’s happening in the agricultural world each month, while Matt Baker and John Craven will take readers behind the scenes of the show with exclusive in-depth news pieces and articles. The magazine will continue to bring readers the latest news, views and issues from the countryside, alongside more ideas on where to go and what to do each month.
The title has been given a cleaner design throughout to make every page more engaging and accessible. An enhanced focus on photography will better showcase and celebrate the beauty of the British countryside, while improved signposting and more distinct sections will create a more logical passage through the magazine.
The new design, layout and content are the culmination of an exhaustive six-month redesign process, which began with extensive reader research with focus groups conducted around the country. The redesign has been spearheaded by Jemima Ransome, Publisher, and the magazine’s new Editor, Fergus Collins, who joined from BBC Wildlife Magazine in November 2009.
Jemima Ransome, Publisher of Countryfile Magazine, commented: “Based on our biggest research project to date and with such a strong TV brand at its heart, we are confident that the new-look Countryfile Magazine will appeal to the show’s growing and enthusiastic legion of new viewers, and will capitalise on the current growth in UK tourism and local food. It is quite simply the ultimate companion to the great British countryside.”
The Easter issue of Countryfile Magazine, on sale 9 March priced £3.60, comes with a free 68-page Guide to Spring Wildlife booklet and a wildlife spotters guide poster for children.
About Countryfile Magazine
BBC Worldwide says: “Countryfile Magazine has a monthly circulation of 27,833 (ABC Jul-Dec 2009) and is published by BBC Magazines Bristol, a trading name of Bristol Magazines Ltd., which is a subsidiary of BBC Worldwide Ltd., the main commercial consumer arm of the BBC.”
About BBC Worldwide
The BBC says: “BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Digital Media, Sales & Distribution, Magazines, Home Entertainment and Global Brands. In 2008/09, BBC Worldwide generated profits of £102.6 million (before exceptionals) on sales of over £1 billion.
BBC Worldwide was awarded with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in April 2009. This prestigious award for International Trade recognised the company’s substantial growth in overseas earnings and commercial success at outstanding levels, based on 3 years’ trading results, which benefit the UK creative industries and ultimately the licence fee payer.”
