Essential Reals In Fortnightly Women’s Title From H Bauer
Essential Publishing has acquired Real magazine from H Bauer Publishing for an undisclosed sum, in a move that marks the company’s third major purchase within the last eighteen months.
There had been wide-spread speculation that H Bauer was preparing to close the fortnightly women’s lifestyle magazine in July. However, the German magazine publisher has now sold the title to Essential following a strategic review of its assets.
Essential Publishing claims that Real is unlike any other in the UK magazine market with the ‘upmarket aspirations’ of the women’s glossy monthlies and the ‘relevance’ of the weekly titles. The company’s managing director, Luke Patten, said: “We believe Real can continue to flourish within our portfolio and maintain its position as a publication that is relevant to modern women’s lives.”
The fortnightly women’s lifestyle title will join Essential’s expanding portfolio of lifestyle and home interest titles, which includes Period House, Homestyle and Rooms & Living. H Bauer will continue to run sales operations for the magazine, but it is expected that this will also move to Essential in due course.
Analysis of ABC figures over the last two years show that Real has performed well, with its circulation increasing significantly following a sharp decline in the second half of 2002. The latest figures reveal a 13.2% year on year increase for the title, which saw circulation rise above the 200,000 mark in the six months to June.
Earlier this year H Bauer launched its latest venture into the women’s monthly magazine market with Lounge, a glossy title featuring a blend of puzzles, celebrities and competitions. The title centres on the brighter side of life, promising no lectures and £20,000 of prizes to be won in each issue (see H Bauer Unveils New Women’s Monthly Magazine).
Essential Publishing: 01206 851 117 www.essentialpublishing.co.uk H Bauer Publishing: 020 7241 8000 www.bauer.co.uk
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