PC World has shut its Indian print edition and will cater to its readers through the Internet, citing higher demand for faster information from readers

Personal computer magazine PC World has said that it has stopped publication of its India print edition, ceding ground to other computer magazines like CHIP and Digit.

PC World said that there is a greater demand for “faster information” from its readers, which it was unable to meet through the magazine, published on a monthly basis.

In a mail to its subscribers in India, the publisher said, “We believe that this goal is best accomplished by picking a different medium, rather than the print magazine with which we started. Today, the Internet provides a far more comprehensive, instant, and interactive platform for us to provide the information you seek.”

Another factor behind the magazine’s decision was that broadband and new economic ‘unlimited plans’ had diminished the need to provide software on disks with readers now choosing to download the software of their choice, PC World added.

PC World has been facing stiff competition from other magazines like CHIP, published in India by Infomedia 18 Ltd and Digit published by Nine Dot Nine Mediaworx Pvt Ltd. CHIP is one of Germany's oldest and largest computer magazines with 4,18,019 copies sold per month. In India, CHIP touched a circulation of around 1,20,000. Digit, on the other hand, was launched by Jasubhai Digital Media, which used to publish CHIP under a licensing agreement with Vogel-Veriag of Germany. In 2007, Digit was acquired by Nine Dot Nine Media.

Both CHIP and Digit provide two dual-layered DVDs that include freeware and demo-software and a booklet with their monthly issues. However, PC World was constrained with only one dual-layered DVD and it was not issuing a separate booklet. This may have led to PC World subscribers migrating to other magazines.

The publisher maintained that it still intended be titled as the “most trusted source of technology advice”, and would update readers with local relevant content.

Subscribers would receive a refund of the remainder of their subscription amount for the print magazine, PC World said, adding that the new website is built in a manner that “maximises” the information for the reader.

Owned by International Data Group (IDG), PC World publishes its magazine in around 51 countries. Its India edition was launched in July 2006. The parent IDG publishes over 300 magazines in 85 countries including titles like Computerworld, InfoWorld, CIO, Macworld, Network World, and PC World.