Emap hopes for 'Closer' success in France

Emap is launching a French version of its hit women's magazine Closer despite its trading problems in the French market.

Emap is launching a French version of its hit women's magazine Closer despite its trading problems in the French market.

Like the UK original, the French Closer will offer celebrity gossip and "real life" stories, aimed at women aged 25 to 49. The media company will put £12m behind the launch, and the magazine goes on sale on Monday.

The UK Closer, which was started two-and-a-half years ago, sells about 500,000 copies a week. Emap wants its French cousin to achieve a circulation of 350,000 by the end of its first year.

Emap has 44 magazines in France but the company has suffered from a sharp drop in circulation for its two weekly television listings magazines - which were highly profitable - after another publisher launched rival titles.

The French magazine market became more competitive from January last year, when publications could be advertised on television for the first time, making new launches much easier. Emap has said that circulations of its television listings magazines, though down sharply, have now stabilised. It recently said it remains committed to the French market and a spokesman said yesterday that the Closer launch was evidence of that.