While sales of adult magazines are increasing in my newsagencies, Playboy is in difficult waters internationally.
The current trend in my newsagencies is double digit growth for adult titles off a low base. I have no explanation for this and it is contrary to what I would expect given the satisfaction available online without cost. Last night, I went back over the data for the January through March 2009 versus 2008 sales benchmark and found that, overall, Adult magazine sales are down 8% in newsagencies.
Playboy, on the other hand, is reporting growing losses. ABC News in the US has a good wrap up of the current situation including an explanation of why the magazine itself is unlikely to fold.