Bauer mags returning to print by September

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Brendan Hill, CEO of magazine giant Bauer, has signalled its intention to have its furloughed print magazines back on the presses by September.

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Suspended, scrapped, moved online: Bauer titles in turbulent times

Mainstream titles including NW, OK! and WHO as well as niche titles Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Instyle, Men’s Health, Women’s Health and Good Health are currently suspended, the onset of the Covid crisis sending the titles off the presses.

Bauer titles are printed by Ovato, however its former rival Pacific Magazines, whose magazines were printed by IVE, is now part of Bauer, with the $40m deal going through last week.

Industry insiders say it is unlikely Bauer would choose one or the other printer for all its magazines, as such a move would take competitiveness and alternate supply out of the market.

Bauer ANZ is though currently up for sale, its German owners looking to exit the market after a less than stellar eight years since it paid James Packer $525m for his ACP company. Since then Bauer has closed multiple titles including the likes of Cleo, Cosmopolitan, Top Gear, Zoo, Madison, Grazia, Burke’s Backyard, BBC Good Food and FHM, all these were prior to Covid-19.

With the Pacific deal Bauer now has around 55 per cent of the Australian magazine market. It pulled out of New Zealand completely four weeks ago when the government banned magazine printing as part of its Level 4 lockdown, with all 237 staff there losing their jobs.

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