Hamburg, February 5, 2004
The introduction of France´s first bi-weekly TV guide by the Gruner + Jahr subsidiary Prisma Presse has broken all previous records. The premier issue of TÉLÉ 2 SEMAINES, which hit newsstands on Jan 5 at a cover price of €1, sold more than a million copies. The second issue of the TV magazine managed to exceed even this circulation. The latest projections peg retail sales at 1.3 million copies, making TÉLÉ 2 SEMAINES the most successful magazine launch of all time in France, and one of the most successful ever in Europe.

The magazine´s bi-weekly publication rhythm was made possible by a program database specifically developed by Prisma Presse. In the past, due to exceedingly short lead times, TV magazines in France were only available in a weekly format. The launch was accompanied by a sweeping advertising campaign, including TV ads – a novelty in the French magazines market.

Axel Ganz, Gruner + Jahr´s executive board member in charge of the Magazines France + USA division, said: "After SHOPPING, TÉLÉ 2 SEMAINES provides further evidence that innovative ideas can breed success even in saturated markets. The triumphant launch of our new TV magazine in our most important market outside of Germany makes us the market leader in the entire French TV guide segment. We plan to continue enhancing this position in the months ahead."

Thomas Huber
Director of Public + Business Relations
Gruner + Jahr AG & Co KG
Am Baumwall 11
20459 Hamburg
Telefon: +49-40-3703-4000
Telefax: +49-40-+49.40.3703-5617
E-Mail: huber.thomas@guj.de