Gaming lit up the week, with engagement soaring on the back of GTA 6 anticipation and Battlefield 6’s beta test, sending PC Gaming interest up sharply. Festival fever gripped Boomtown and Boardmasters, fuelling spikes across Music genres, while the Edinburgh Fringe kept Theatre, Drama, and Fine Art in the spotlight. Holidaymakers squeezed in last-minute breaks as students gear up for A-Level results, and Automotive interest accelerated ahead of registration renewals.
Topical News
Video Gaming saw an action-packed week, with engagement up 44%. Anticipation for GTA 6 is surging ahead of its 2026 launch, though concerns grow that its mature themes may clash with the UK Online Safety Act, fuelling calls for tougher age rating restrictions Action Video Game interest rose 20% as a result. Meanwhile, Battlefield 6’s two-day beta testing period over the weekend sparked an 84% surge in PC Gaming page hits.
A viral sensation, the ‘Ibiza Final Boss’, has made waves across the news this week as videos of a man with a unique haircut circulated social media. This viral moment has boosted the Style & Fashion Category, with Mens Accessories up 2.5x and Men’s Fashion up 39% as readers rushed to dissect his look.
Irish actor and Soap Opera star, Frank Grimes, sadly passed away this week. Pop Culture has surged 20% as tributes roll in for the actor.
Elsewhere, the Bank of England has renewed and dropped interest rates, skyrocketing the Interest Rates category by 4.7x as readers catch up on the changes. Meanwhile, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has confirmed a tax crackdown, which will impact the tax-free savings allowance. As a result, Savings has boosted 99% and Personal Taxes 45%.
Seasonal Events
Festival season continues with iconic Boomtown and Boardmasters both taking place over the weekend. As a result, Festivals (Events & Attractions) has seen a 45% spike in interest, and Music events a 10% surge. Dance and Electronic Music is up 2.1x, Hip Hop Music 3.6x and Alternative Rock 51% as readers tuned into the events of the weekend.
Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Fringe enters its second week, with Fine Art engagement climbing 33%, Theatre enjoying a 36% boost, and Drama delivering a 2.9x WoW surge.
Brits are stepping up the excitement for Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 season this September. Television engagement is up 11%, with Reality TV and Special Interest TV enjoying a lively 23% and 45% lift respectively as Brits look into this season’s cast.
Meanwhile, families are continuing to prep for last minute holidays. Shopping is up 17% WoW, with Holiday Shopping seeing a sunny 14% boost. However, back to school season is fast approaching with students preparing for A-level results this Thursday. College Life is up 4.1x and Educational Assessments 43%.
Finally, the car upcoming registration renewal has accelerated the Automotive category by 16% as Brit’s look into new models, with sub category Auto Type up 38%.
Looking Ahead with Ozone’s Audiences
Reach 22.7m Back-to-School readers with Ozone’s Education and Parenting segments. Leverage Ozone’s Audience Connection Platform to engage highly active parents and students during peak engagement from August to September.
With A-Level and GCSE Results Day sparking major surges in education interest and the back-to-school season fuelling demand for children’s clothing and essentials, now is the ideal moment to refine your message and engage audiences ready to act.
Key Dates
- A-Level Results Day: 14th August, drives +25% University Education growth
- GCSE Results Day: 21st August, 75-100% Education page views growth
- Back to School: September 2024 drove +50% growth in Children’s Clothing page hits. We can expect to see similar growth this year.
