Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 24
  1. #1
    CEO, Rx Muscle huge285's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    20,553
    Rep Power
    2148353

    Default AMI- American Media- Sells SHAPE MAGAZINE to Meredith!

    Commentary: Meredith Rises and AMI Recedes With the Acquisition of Shape

    Wednesday, January 28, 2015
    Tony SilberShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printShare on pinterest_shareShare on google_plusone_shareMore Sharing Services25Article Database


    This morning (Jan 28), Meredith announced the acquisition of Shape Magazine, plus the digital assets of the Shape, Natural Health, and Fit Pregnancy brands, from America Media. Meredith's Fitness will be rolled into Shape. The merged Shape will have a rate base of 2.5 million, an increase of 60 percent from its current level of 1.6 million, Meredith said in a press release. The Shape and Fitness Websites will continue to operate as separate digital destinations, with a combined reach of almost 7 million unduplicated unique monthly visitors.

    David Zinczenko and his team from his independent company, Galvanized LLC, had been managing Shape for AMI. and he will continue during the transition even while managing Men's Fitness for AMI. It's sort of an odd arrangement.

    So Meredith is cruising along, but American Media, run by a true media original in David Pecker for the last 16 years, has been in and out of financial crises for the last decade. Perhaps this is the start of an AMI sell-off, because Shape is without doubt one of AMI's strongest brands. The company also publishes Star, National Enquirer, OK! and other brands, and since 2009 it has handled the business operations for Playboy.

    The morning announcement was unclear about who will manage the merged Shape. My colleague Steve Cohn reached out to Meredith this morning to seek clarification whether Fitness Publisher Eric Schwarzkopf and Fitness Editor in Chief Betty Wong would be staying on.

    It took until the afternoon for Meredith to announce that Schwarzkopf is Shape associate publisher and Wong VP of brand development at the Shape and Fitness Websites. Shape publisher (and Schwarzkopf's boss) is Tim O'Connor, who moves from Meredith corporate sales group managing director, while editor-in-chief Elizabeth Goodman Artis is a carryover from AMI.

    We were told that the delay followed Meredith protocol of "completing all employee conversations before:sending out anything on personnel or staff changes."
    .
    Meredith Corp. is soon going to have to be designated the best magazine company in the country, maybe the world. That's saying a lot, because its peer companies—Time Inc., Hearst, Condé Nast—are pretty good companies too. But for a decade or more, Meredith has had a formula that works, and works, interestingly, in part by stressing the value of print media. Case in point:

    The company launched a print version of Allrecipes, and just raised the rate base for that successful print brand to 1.1 million. And last year, Meredith took over the sales and marketing for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Maybe it's the market focus and the audience. Meredith is the leading media company serving American women exclusively.

    No matter. The fact that people are guessing that Meredith might acquire Time Inc. at some point in 2015 says a lot.

    If you have breaking news to share please contact min's editors.
    Watch #askDave on RxMuscle.com. Catch previous episodes HERE


  2. #2
    OLYMPIAN
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Posts
    4,295
    Rep Power
    0

    Default



    American Media sells Shape, 2 others for $60M to Meredith

    By Keith J. Kelly

    January 28, 2015

    American Media Inc. is trying to get its balance sheet in shape — without Shape.
    The struggling publisher on Wednesday sold the title — and sister magazines Natural Health and Fit Pregnancy — to Meredith Corp. for $60 million in cash, plus future profit-sharing, according to sources.




    While AMI’s balance sheet certainly could use the cash, the sale could turn out to be a win-win for CEO David Pecker, sources said.
    The future profit-sharing over the next three years could reach as high as $60 million, sources said, which would double the deal’s value to $120 million.
    Meredith’ s Shape rival, Fitness magazine, will fold its print edition and combine its subscriber list with Shape beginning with the May issue.
    The combination will boost Shape’s circulation rate base to 2.5 million from 1.6 million. The Web sites will continue under their own names.
    Meanwhile, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health will cease their print editions.
    “The acquisition of Shape establishes Meredith as the leader in the women’s active lifestyle media category,” said Tom Harty, head of the company’s National Media Group.
    Shape, whose readers have a median age of 39 and an average annual income of $89,000, will be a “category killer,” Meredith CEO Steve Lacy predicted in a conference call.

    AMI is under financial pressure due to its heavy debt load amid the perils of the newsstands market, where its National Enquirer and other titles derive a major portion of the company’s revenues. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s earlier this month rated its outlook as “negative.”

    Last July former bondholders Avenue Capital, Angelo, Gordon & Co. and Capital Research and Management, which had become reluctant stockholders, saw their equity wiped out in a reorganization.
    In September, the company hammered out debt-for-equity swap and restructured some remaining debt.
    If AMI can get anywhere near $120 million — considered a long shot for a brand that is estimated to make about $17 million next fiscal year — it could go a long way toward solving Pecker’s chronic debt problems.
    One big surprise related to the sale is that David Zinczenko, whose firm Galvanized Media had been consulting with AMI on Men’s Fitness and Shape, will continue to oversee Meredith-owned Shape on a consulting basis.
    Meredith also is publishing an Eat This Not That magazine based on the best-selling book Zinczenko co-authored Matt Goulding.
    Here’s a breakdown on where some of the media talent will be landing:
    l Shape’s Chief Content Officer Elizabeth Goodman Artis will be joining Meredith as Shape editor, sources said.
    l Current Fitness Editor Betty Wong is getting bumped, but will stay with Meredith’s digital operations.
    l  Shape Publisher David Jackson will be replaced by Tim O’Connor, director of corporate group sales at Meredith.
    Wall Street seemed to like the Shape news, boosting Meredith shares 1 percent Wednesday, to $53.62.

    http://nypost.com/2015/01/28/america...m-to-meredith/
    Last edited by Musclepapa John; 01-29-2015 at 07:38 PM.

  3. #3
    musclesportmag.com Joe Pietaro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    1,454
    Rep Power
    2147693

    Default

    I'm sure that someone was dancing around Brand X HQ today when this came over the teletype.

  4. #4
    OLYMPIAN
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Posts
    4,295
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Pietaro View Post
    I'm sure that someone was dancing around Brand X HQ today when this came over the teletype.
    News has been out a couple of days, but nothing for them to dance about. It makes AMI stronger.

  5. #5
    musclesportmag.com Joe Pietaro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    1,454
    Rep Power
    2147693

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Musclepapa John View Post
    News has been out a couple of days, but nothing for them to dance about. It makes AMI stronger.
    But you know as well as I do that Professor X always twists things to be against AMI and in his favor. Every move that they make is scrutinized heavily and over analyzed in red pen. (Dave will laugh when reading that last part.)

  6. #6
    The Godzilla of RX
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    1,712
    Rep Power
    2147678

    Default

    And thus begins another MPJ and JP shitfest.

    Truly the most boring posters alive with an obsessive-compulsive disorder regarding MD (sorry, "brand x"). Pathetic.
    Last edited by Maniacal; 01-30-2015 at 12:44 AM.
    Fill up the syringe...

  7. #7
    RX MEMBER codsta86's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    228
    Rep Power
    103158

    Default

    Can we do a gofundme campaign and buy out Phil, Kai's and Jay's contract from AMI and actually do some original videos and radio interviews unlike Flex? I'll put $100 in....

  8. #8
    CEO, Rx Muscle huge285's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    20,553
    Rep Power
    2148353

    Default

    BLECHMAN has been predicting AMI's doom since they bought the WEIDER mags.......the truth is that while all magazine titles are doing terrible (compared to 10 years ago), I think the AMI titles are easily outselling MDs. Who would have thought?
    Watch #askDave on RxMuscle.com. Catch previous episodes HERE


  9. #9
    OLYMPIAN
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Posts
    4,295
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by huge285 View Post
    BLECHMAN has been predicting AMI's doom since they bought the WEIDER mags.......the truth is that while all magazine titles are doing terrible (compared to 10 years ago), I think the AMI titles are easily outselling MDs. Who would have thought?
    Stop being boring Dave

  10. #10
    The Godzilla of RX
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    1,712
    Rep Power
    2147678

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Musclepapa John View Post
    Stop being boring Dave
    Hardly.

    Dave started a thread. You and Pietaro come in and begin another incessant volley of Brand X musings, continuing your streak of OCD MD-talk.
    Fill up the syringe...

  11. #11
    CEO, Rx Muscle huge285's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    20,553
    Rep Power
    2148353

    Default

    AMI has "restructured" their debt at least 3-5x since they bought FLEX/M&F/SHAPE from JOE WEIDER....... they were in way bigger trouble 10 years ago when BLECHMAN's MD mag was killing them (when ROMANO, ME, VALENTINO, ect were there). Nowadays, AMI sees the writing on the wall and they're wisely selling off their mags while they're still worth something (thus the sale of SHAPE). I wouldn't be surprised if they sell (or are trying to sell) MUSCLE AND FITNESS and FLEX. IRONMAN was sold; i'm sure John Balik is thrilled he got "out" before the mag was worth ZERO. If I were Blechman, I'd close the magazine and put all the articles ONLINE. It might take a while to get the advertising to support it, but he has a big bank account to carrying the business for a while. Get rid of all your exclusive athletes and just pay them as needed for photo shoots. Either that or turn MD into a boutique magazine for gay men?
    Watch #askDave on RxMuscle.com. Catch previous episodes HERE


  12. #12
    musclesportmag.com Joe Pietaro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    1,454
    Rep Power
    2147693

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by huge285 View Post
    BLECHMAN has been predicting AMI's doom since they bought the WEIDER mags.......the truth is that while all magazine titles are doing terrible (compared to 10 years ago), I think the AMI titles are easily outselling MDs. Who would have thought?
    We shall never know for sure because only one of the companies is audited. (Guess which one isn't?)

  13. #13
    OLYMPIAN
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Posts
    4,295
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by huge285 View Post
    AMI has "restructured" their debt at least 3-5x since they bought FLEX/M&F/SHAPE from JOE WEIDER....... they were in way bigger trouble 10 years ago when BLECHMAN's MD mag was killing them (when ROMANO, ME, VALENTINO, ect were there). Nowadays, AMI sees the writing on the wall and they're wisely selling off their mags while they're still worth something (thus the sale of SHAPE). I wouldn't be surprised if they sell (or are trying to sell) MUSCLE AND FITNESS and FLEX. IRONMAN was sold; i'm sure John Balik is thrilled he got "out" before the mag was worth ZERO. If I were Blechman, I'd close the magazine and put all the articles ONLINE. It might take a while to get the advertising to support it, but he has a big bank account to carrying the business for a while. Get rid of all your exclusive athletes and just pay them as needed for photo shoots. Either that or turn MD into a boutique magazine for gay men?
    What happens to the Olympia and those big payouts in the above scenario?
    Last edited by Musclepapa John; 01-30-2015 at 03:43 PM.

  14. #14
    OLYMPIAN
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Posts
    4,295
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Maniacal View Post
    Hardly.

    Dave started a thread. You and Pietaro come in and begin another incessant volley of Brand X musings, continuing your streak of OCD MD-talk.
    I'll take that under advisement.

  15. #15
    CEO, Rx Muscle huge285's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    20,553
    Rep Power
    2148353

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Musclepapa John View Post
    What happens to the Olympia and those big payouts in the above scenario?
    I'm sure the OLYMPIA would be on a selling block as well......that's a money maker. I'd sell all the mag titles (with the Olympia) .....bundle it all together. Blechman should buy the Olympia........but he'd want it for pennies on the dollar and AMI is not stupid. They're gonna tryt o cash in on that sale (I wouldn't blame them)
    Watch #askDave on RxMuscle.com. Catch previous episodes HERE


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

X vBulletin 4.2.3 Debug Information

  • Page Generation 0.16148 seconds
  • Memory Usage 7,426KB
  • Queries Executed 25 (?)
More Information
Template Usage (43):
  • (1)SHOWTHREAD
  • (1)ad_footer_end
  • (1)ad_footer_start
  • (1)ad_global_above_footer
  • (1)ad_global_below_navbar
  • (1)ad_global_header1
  • (1)ad_global_header2
  • (1)ad_navbar_below
  • (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_sig
  • (1)ad_showthread_firstpost_start
  • (1)ad_thread_first_post_content
  • (1)ad_thread_last_post_content
  • (8)bbcode_quote
  • (4)block_html
  • (1)block_threads
  • (1)facebook_footer
  • (1)facebook_header
  • (1)facebook_likebutton
  • (1)facebook_opengraph
  • (1)footer
  • (1)forumjump
  • (1)forumrules
  • (1)gobutton
  • (1)header
  • (1)headinclude
  • (1)headinclude_bottom
  • (15)memberaction_dropdown
  • (1)navbar
  • (4)navbar_link
  • (1)navbar_noticebit
  • (1)navbar_tabs
  • (3)option
  • (1)pagenav
  • (1)pagenav_curpage
  • (1)pagenav_pagelink
  • (15)postbit_legacy
  • (15)postbit_onlinestatus
  • (15)postbit_wrapper
  • (3)showthread_bookmarksite
  • (1)sidebarext_temp
  • (1)spacer_close
  • (1)spacer_open
  • (1)tagbit_wrapper 

Phrase Groups Available (6):
  • global
  • inlinemod
  • postbit
  • posting
  • reputationlevel
  • showthread
Included Files (37):
  • ./showthread.php
  • ./global.php
  • ./includes/class_bootstrap.php
  • ./includes/init.php
  • ./includes/class_core.php
  • ./includes/config.php
  • ./includes/functions.php
  • ./includes/functions_navigation.php
  • ./includes/class_friendly_url.php
  • ./includes/class_hook.php
  • ./includes/class_bootstrap_framework.php
  • ./vb/vb.php
  • ./vb/phrase.php
  • ./includes/class_facebook.php
  • ./includes/facebook/facebook.php
  • ./includes/facebook/base_facebook.php
  • ./includes/functions_facebook.php
  • ./includes/functions_bigthree.php
  • ./includes/class_postbit.php
  • ./includes/class_bbcode.php
  • ./includes/functions_reputation.php
  • ./includes/class_block.php
  • ./includes/block/html.php
  • ./vb/context.php
  • ./vb/cache.php
  • ./vb/cache/db.php
  • ./vb/cache/observer/db.php
  • ./vb/cache/observer.php
  • ./includes/functions_notice.php
  • ./includes/block/threads.php
  • ./packages/vbattach/attach.php
  • ./vb/types.php
  • ./packages/skimlinks/hooks/postbit_display_complete.php
  • ./packages/skimlinks/hooks/showthread_complete.php
  • ./mobiquo/smartbanner.php
  • ./mobiquo/include/classTTConnection.php
  • ./mobiquo/smartbanner/head.inc.php 

Hooks Called (77):
  • init_startup
  • database_pre_fetch_array
  • database_post_fetch_array
  • friendlyurl_resolve_class
  • global_bootstrap_init_start
  • global_bootstrap_init_complete
  • cache_permissions
  • fetch_threadinfo_query
  • fetch_threadinfo
  • fetch_foruminfo
  • load_show_variables
  • load_forum_show_variables
  • global_state_check
  • global_bootstrap_complete
  • global_start
  • style_fetch
  • global_setup_complete
  • showthread_start
  • cache_templates
  • cache_templates_process
  • template_register_var
  • template_render_output
  • fetch_template_start
  • fetch_template_complete
  • friendlyurl_clean_fragment
  • friendlyurl_geturl
  • fb_canonical_url
  • fb_opengraph_array
  • parse_templates
  • fetch_musername
  • notices_check_start
  • notices_noticebit
  • process_templates_complete
  • showthread_getinfo
  • strip_bbcode
  • forumjump
  • friendlyurl_redirect_canonical
  • showthread_post_start
  • showthread_query_postids
  • showthread_query
  • bbcode_fetch_tags
  • bbcode_create
  • showthread_postbit_create
  • postbit_factory
  • postbit_display_start
  • reputation_power
  • reputation_image
  • bbcode_parse_start
  • bbcode_img_match
  • postbit_imicons
  • bbcode_parse_complete_precache
  • bbcode_parse_complete
  • postbit_display_complete
  • memberaction_dropdown
  • pagenav_page
  • pagenav_complete
  • tag_fetchbit_complete
  • forumrules
  • showthread_bookmarkbit
  • navbits
  • navbits_complete
  • build_navigation_data
  • build_navigation_array
  • check_navigation_permission
  • process_navigation_links_start
  • process_navigation_links_complete
  • set_navigation_menu_element
  • build_navigation_menudata
  • build_navigation_listdata
  • build_navigation_list
  • set_navigation_tab_main
  • set_navigation_tab_fallback
  • navigation_tab_complete
  • fb_publish_checkbox
  • fb_like_button
  • showthread_complete
  • page_templates