Speculation Mounts Over Haymarket Media Week Deal

Speculation is mounting this morning that magazine giant Haymarket is to purchase Media Week from Quantum Publishing, following the company’s decision to sell off some of its most lucrative business titles last year.

However, NewsLine understands that no deal has yet been signed between the two companies, despite a decision over the magazine’s future being expected last month (see Media Week Sale Decision Expected This Week).

Should a deal between Quantum and Haymarket be forthcoming, Lord Heseltine’s publishing group will add the title to its already impressive portfolio of media titles, which includes Campaign, PR Week and Marketing. However, it is not known whether the publisher is also considering the purchase of Quantum’s Press Gazette.

Media Week has seen its circulation decline steadily since a peak of nearly 21,000 in 2000. The title currently commands a total of just over 16,000, down 3.67% year on year in the period Jul 03 to Jun 04.

The title recently attempted to broaden its readership base, publishing a monthly marketing section, Media Week Marketing, claiming to be a “brighter, smarter and more insightful” take on the industry. However, this could face the axe under the ownership of Haymarket, as it would compete directly with its own Marketing magazine (see Media Week To Launch Monthly Marketing Supplement).

Haymarket Publishing: 020 8267 5000 www.haymarketgroup.com Media Week: 020 8565 4326 www.mediaweek.co.uk