Axel Springer to launch new Hörzu spin-off focusing on home and country living in September

Axel Springer to launch new Hörzu spin-off called Hörzu Heimat (“Listen home” literally) whose debut is planned for September 1.  Hörzu is one of Germany’s most popular TV guides.

The bi-monthly science spinoff Hörzu Wissen (Wissen = Knowledge) led the way some years ago, now Hörzu Heimat will face the daunting task of repeating the success of Hörzu’s first spin-off.  The premier issue will focus on topics relating to Germany (the “Heimat”) and will be available in newsstands from September 1 on.

The 124-page issue will have a print run of 300 000 copies to start and management estimates to sell about 150 000.  The book will be available in newsstands for a two-month period at a cover price €3,50.  Axel Springer has already got committment from ten advertisers to be featured in the debut issue of Hörzu Heimat.

Hörzu Heimat won’t be your usual country living magazine. Instead, it wants to introduce its readers to a new, independent magazine format, which does not aim at competing directly with the recent wave of country magazine that launched in Germany like Mein Schönes Land and Landlust, as its editor Christian Hellmann explained.  The magazine seems to cater to Germans who love their country or Germanophiles worldwide.  Besides country-related topics, there are city- and travel-related topics like a feature on Munich’s renown Oktoberfest for instance.  Its editorial is split into the following sections: nature, good life, interiors, garden, food, wine, country people and the homeland ak.a. Germany.

Condé Nast graduates from the Gehry-designed cafeteria to the restaurant business

As reported by the WSJ, US magazine publisher Condé Nast is taking some of its best-known magazine names like Vogue and GQ and parlaying them into the restaurant business in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.  The effort reflects a growing openness among magazine publishers to try to capitalize on their brands beyond print, which continues to struggle in a tough advertising environment.

The restaurant venture only involves Condé Nast’s international unit, so there are no plans for a Vanity Fair Café or a New Yorker Bar & Grill in the U.S. That being said, the American magazines have been freed to reach their own deals, such as lines of jewelry or furnishings or e-commerce partnerships to name a few that Glamour US dabbled in recently.

“I think there’s been a new openness in the entire organization to experimenting, trying new things, and I would say thinking about the business model in new ways,” said Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman of Condé Nast International.

The company is establishing a new division, called Condé Nast Restaurants,

USA: Time Magazine launches new Android app

In another indication of the growing popularity of the new Android operating system, Time Magazine launched a new Android app on Thursday, in a move to expand its reach among this burgeoning new population of smartphone users.

The free Time Android App, following similar apps for the iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry, offers users access to the magazine’s photography, lists, quotes, videos and other editorial content. It also provides a variety of customization options, including the ability to choose a small or large widget for the home screen and what section is featured on the widget. All items on the App can be shared using social media tools.  Users can download articles for offline reading and can also listen to podcasts while browsing the magazine’s content.

Time Magazine is one of several major consumer magazines to bring an app to Android.  Free, you get articles, videos, podcasts and photos delivered straight to your phone.  Save articles for offline reading and share them with friends.  An available home screen widget makes Time updates readily accessible.

Oprah is a lifestyle brand, as evidenced by her show, book club and magazine O.  And you can now access select articles on Oprah Mobile’s $1.99 Android app, along with show clips, radio programs and inspirational tips.

Epicurious is the online home of Gourmet Magazine, giving the Android app high marks on most people’s list.  The Gourmet app offers free articles and recipes, along with a searchable database of menu ideas and a meal planner.  It is also possible to build a shopping list in-app and share favorites with friends.

USA: “New York Magazine” partners with Foursquare

New York magazine is joining the check-in parade with this week’s announcement that it has joined forces with Foursquare, the popular location-based social-media site. The move will enable the magazine to create co-branded social-media loyalty programs for readers visiting participating businesses.

The new deal brings Foursquare to the NYMag.com website, allowing visitors to “check in” from various local businesses in its restaurant, bargains and nightlife listings, including the usual assortment of coffee shops, restaurants, and cultural venues. Users earn points for special discounts or deals provided by the proprietors.

The Foursquare check-ins let users know where their friends are, enabling “real-world” meet-ups, while giving businesses free social-media exposure.

The magazine’s roughly 7000 Foursquare followers can get tips and suggestions for approximately 5000 restaurants, 1600 bars and 5500 stores listed on the site.

UK: British chef Gary Rhodes is launching bespoke foodie magazine “Rhodes”

Gary Rhodes, the British TV chef and restaurant owner, is launching a custom magazine through the bespoke contract publisher MMC Media with the first issue available from August 2010.

Rhodes will be a new high-end monthly magazine, which coincides with the Michelin-starred chef’s 30th anniversary in the restaurant business.

The perfect-bound publication will have a print run of 20000 for the first 12 months and will be distributed to customers at his restaurants for free, including those abroad in Dubai and Grenada.

Approximately a third of the magazine will be advertising.

The French cigar afficionado mag “L’Amateur de Cigare” to be redesigned in September

On September 10,” L’Amateur de Cigare“ magazine (similar to “Cigar aficionado” in the U.S.), will present its new version to its audience.  Its current Publication Director,  Jean-Yves Martinez, and the editor, Annie Lorenzo,  have been working on the redesign of the title, which is supposed to become glossier, more upscale and further foster the cigar club member’s feeling amongst its readers.

This Fall, the bi-monthly magazine started in 1994 will boast a fresher layout and a new tabloid-format insert added inside the wine-tasting and food sections. The editorial of the new L’Amateur de Cigare will be divided into two reading universes: tasting on one end and “art de vivre” on the other.

The magazine currently circulates 21 000 copies every other month, of which 8 500 are subs.  Ad sales are handled by MediaObs and the 4CFP is listed at €7 000.  Cover price is €5,50 per copy and the magazine has a reach of 30 000.

Click to see the complete media kit online.

German food and wine magazine “Der Feinschmecker” to turn 35 in September

The upscale German connoisseur magazine Der Feinschmecker, which is dedicated to international gastronomy, travel, food and wine will turn 35 in september. A special anniversary issue will come out on August 11 along with a free polybagged pocket-size “Restaurant Guide“.

Its German publisher, Jahreszeiten Verlag, also intends to promote this special issue with a b-to-b and b-to-c advertising campaign as well as several promotional events throughout Germany.

Sold for €6 per copy, Der Feinschmecker currently circulates 93 778 copies per month (IVW Audit,  1st quarter 2010) and is considered the most upscale amongst food and wine publications in Germany.  The 4CFP ad is listed at €16 900 on the official rate card.

Click to see Der Feinschmecker’s media kit online.

USA: Gourmet magazine comes aLive again!

More than eight months after Condé Nast shuttered Gourmet, the company revealed plans Tuesday to revive the revered food magazine. Sort of. “It’s not a magazine and it’s not a digital version of a magazine,” said president and chief executive officer Chuck Townsend before unveiling Gourmet Live, an app that will bring the title’s 70 years worth of archives to the iPad and other digital platforms.

As WWD further commented “users who download the program when it launches in the fourth quarter will have access to a preselected slice of stories, recipes and videos that will grow as they explore and share items with their social network”. Townsend reportedly also added that the publisher would assemble a team of eight to 10 “producers” (so long, writers and editors; it’s a producer’s world) to aggregate content for the app and that its operations would fall under Carol Smith, vice president and publisher for the company’s food brands. There were more than 60 editorial staffers on the Gourmet masthead when it shuttered in October. Eventually, the company said, the portal could contain user-generated content such as restaurant recommendations.

Townsend said Condé Nast’s optimized projections call for the app to contribute $20 million in annual revenues within three or four years. Though the initial download will be free, Townsend presented Gourmet Live as a sort of sandbox that

Martha Stewart Living expands internationally

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is to launch Everyday Food in Dubai in July 2010. The monthly title will have a circulation of 35000 and will be distributed in Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Syria and Jordan.  The US edition of Everyday Food currently reaches 4,5 million readers a month.  Additionally, Martha Stewart Weddings is also set to launch in Dubai by October 2010, under license from local entertainment firm Takhayal.  The quarterly bridal magazine will have a circulation of 40 000 and will be distributed in Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Syria and Jordan.  The US edition of Martha Stewart Weddings, which debuted in 1994, currently circulates about 230 000 copies every quarter.

Also, Martha Stewart Living magazine will launch in Indonesia under a licensing agreement with Kompas Gramedia, the largest media conglomerate there. The monthly home title will launch in August 2010 with a circulation of 20000.

Lastly, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Pizzazz Media to produce and distribute Martha Stewart Living in the UK. The new edition, which will be distributed throughout the UK, New Zealand and Australia, is expected to be published on a monthly basis following the September 2010 launch.  The magazine’s circulation is 50 000 and the cover price is £3,75 (€4,52).

USA: Parade Publications to launch new food magazine supplement this fall

According to last week’s article in The New York Times, Condé Nast is teaming up with parent company Advance Publication’s Parade magazine on a new magazine product to be launched.

“Simple. Fast. Delicious.” That’s the motto of the new food title, which Parade Publications plans to introduce as a newspaper magazine supplement and a website under the Dash brand this November.  There is no relation to the Mrs. Dash brand of seasonings from Alberto-Culver or the Dash brand of detergent once sold by Procter & Gamble.  The new title will run as an insert in 100 newspapers around the US (of the 540 that carry Parade)  to reach an estimated circulation of 8 million. Dash will also provide editorial content about food that the participating newspapers can publish in their print or online edition.  However, Dash will be inserted to complement food articles (and advertising!) in

Singapore: Magazines Integrated successfully launched “epicure” magazine

Singapore-based Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd [m(int.)] has succesfully launched epicure magazine, a 120-page monthly food publication whose debut issue came out in April 2010.

Designed for bon vivants who share the belief that food is the ultimate universal language, epicure is on an enthusiastic quest to seek out the latest dining trends, sniff out remarkable wine vintages and uncover the dynamics and intricacies of the local and international culinary scene. Each month, the magazine will profile celebrity chefs and winemakers, showcase exclusive recipes for entertaining as well as highlight the latest destinations for well-travelled foodies. These insightful articles are complemented with lush, captivating photos to stimulate the senses. In addition, epicure will also have an active online presence. Readers can gain access to the epicure brand via its print magazine, interactive website and Facebook. In particular, the website will generate add-on interactive features to engage its online readers.

epicure has a circulation of 10000 copies and will be audited after one year of publication. The magazine will be available at major bookstores, newsstands, in hotels, and selected airlines and restaurants.  Cover price is S$8.50.

Germany: New mag “Freundin Donna” goes after mature women

The debut issue of the latest Freundin spinoff called Freundin Donna, which targets more mature women (the 45-60 y.o. bracket) than its big sister Freundin, hit German newsstands last week with much fanfare.

The latest launch by German publisher Hubert Burda Media, was originally codenamed Anton, until a few weeks prior to its launch.  The editor Ulrike Zeitlinger felt like women 45+ have been ignored in the magazine arena, leaving a deep void that Freundin Donna is hoping to fill.  Its editorial features the usual women’s magazine’s fixtures: “Mode” (fashion), “Beauty & Wellness”, “Leben & Lieben” (living and loving), “Gesundheit” (health), “Kreativ Wohnen” (creative living), “Kultur” (culture), „Kochen” (cooking) and “Reise” (travel).

The 260-page debut issue of the new Freundin spinoff (Freundin WellFit is another sister edition focusing on health and fitness) is on sale for €2,90 and is printed on high-quality glossy paper with an initial print run of 300 000 copies.  If successful, the magazine should become monthly this Fall (Freundin comes out every other week).

A 4CFP ad is listed at €14500 gross, according to the publisher rate card.

Click to see to the official publisher press release (in German).

France: “Modes & Travaux” mag gets complete overhaul

The new version of of the French women’s services monthly Modes & Travaux is available since May 11.  Its publisher, Mondadori France, has totally revamped the title, which was first launched in 1919! It now has a new logo, new layout, new fonts, and comes in two different formats: standard and pocket-size.  Its editorial content is also now broken out in four main sections: “Mode & Beauté” (fashion & beauty), “Déco & Jardin” (decor and garden), “Cuisine et Saveurs” (cooking and flavors), “Bons plans” (tips and good ideas).

Modes & Travaux is a general interest magazine, which caters mostly to mature women in their 40’s or above.  Sold for €2, Modes & Travaux currently circulates 385 078 copies per month and has a reach of 2 613 000 readers.

Check out the Modesettravaux.fr website to take a peak inside the latest issue.

France: the new Gault & Millau magazine is out

The refreshed version of the bi-monthly gourmet lifestyle magazine Gault & Millau is out.  Behind the name is the food guide launched in 1969 by Henri Gault and Christian Millau, the instigators of the “nouvelle cuisine” movement back in 1973, which celebrated chefs like Paul Bocuse, the Troisgros brothers, Alain Chapel and Michel Guérard.

The magazine’s core is now broken out in four main categories: gastronomy, design and charming hotels, wine and cuisine.  From now on, the magazine will adopt a more regional touch with five covers per issue, each reflecting the local specificities of the following French regions: Paris/Ile-de-France, Brittany, North-Alsace, South-East/Lyon,Marseille/Nice, and the South-West.  Each regional issue will include a list of the top-rated restaurants tried by the Gault & Millau critics.  With this new regional attitude, the magazine aims to grow its circulation up to 100 000 copies per issue.

Click here to take a peak inside an issue of Gault & Millau.

Germany: “Beef!”, the magazine for men with taste

Gruner + Jahr has launched a €1,6M advertising campaign to promote its latest men’s title Beef! whose debut issue just came out and will now be published quarterly (August 5 and November 4 next).  The year-long campaign is running in Gruner publications as well as competitive titles (Capital, Monopol, Cicero, Stern and Brigitte are reportedly on the media plan).

Beef! was first introduced as a test issue in Fall 2009 as the gourmet magazine for men who cook.  Beef! is the brainchild of German editor Jan Spielhagen who won the internal Gruner contest for new magazine ideas.  He then developped the 174-page test issue, whose print run was 100 000 (53 000 sold copies) despite the hefty €9,80 cover price.  The highlights of the magazine are its centerfold with suggestions for the perfect four-course menu, its 16-page wine guide and, of course, the cover story, which was all about what men love most: steaks!

Beef! caters to affluent German men aged 30-54, who like to host nice dinners occasionnally. The 4cFP ad is listed at €14000 in the rate card.  Click to download the Beef! factsheet in English.  And the official magazine website Beef.de is already up and running.

Australia: MasterChef magazine to launch Down Under

Australian publisher News Magazines, part of News Corp., has announced the launch of MasterChef magazine, making Australia the first market to publish a print edition of the famous television program. 

The monthly magazine will launch on May 10 with 164 pages and a cover price of AU$4.95 (about €3.50). Its launch print run will be more than 220 000, according to the publisher.  You can already subscribe online on the magsonline.com.au website.

France: Le Figaro revamps its weekly cultural supplement “FigaroScope”

FigaroScope, Le Figaro's free magazine supplement about Paris' social events and cultural life got a face-lift on Wednesday.  Indeed, "le Scope", as it is often refered as on the streets of Paris, now boasts a refreshed layout, additional sections and a new editorial tone.  It is more of an evolution than a revolution, but definitely a positive change.

As the must-read local city-guide, Figaroscope features all the latest Parisian trends as well as the current must-see openings of the week and cultural events to come.  Its food and places sections also have a huge following.  The most relevant new features are:

• "Sold to the highest bidder!" by Béatrice of Rochebouet: advice to start or expand one's art collection.
• "The grain of salt" by writer Nicolas D'Estienne d'Orves: the Parisian snobbery seen through the eyes of this keen observer of the times.
• "On form": the best spots to remain tonic, to pamper, relax, refresh and re-energize.
• "Power of Art": Valérie Duponchelle on news exhibitions (museums, art galleries …).
• "Curtain!": Nathalie Simon on theater.
• "Next showing": Jean-Luc Wachtausen on the latest film releases.
• "Sweet and lowdown" by Annie Grandjanin (music).
• "On point" by Ariane Bavelier (ballet).
• "First seating" by Emmanuel Rubin (new restaurants).

And of course, the cult section of FigaroScope:
• "Haché Menu": food critic François Simon sifting through the best tables of Paris. 

The Figaroscope's website has also been revamped with additional content, an interactive forum for users to debate about the question of the week (« La question de la semaine ») or  the latest food topics (« Le coin des gastronautes »).  Lastly, users can now register to receive two free weekly newsletters ("cultural" on Wednesday's and "recommended spots and places" on Friday's).