Living Media to float separate distribution company soon

Living Media’s network, which plans to set up a separate company for the distribution of magazines, has already got four magazines on board

Living Media’s distribution network has got MAXposure Media Group’s ‘Andpersand’ magazine (‘&’) and ‘Forms’, and Next Gen Publishing’s ‘FHM’ (‘For Him Magazine’) in its kitty. This is the third time that Living Media will handle the distribution for other magazines besides its own in-house titles. Prior to this, the company had a distribution tie-up with Condé Nast International’s ‘Vogue’ for the Indian market.

These developments are as per Living Media’s plans to launch a separate distribution company, which will also deal in music and books besides magazines. Living Media plans to bring its media marts, too, under this company.

Living Media to float separate distribution company soon

Vivek Gaur

Last month, at the Indian Magazine Congress held in Mumbai, Vivek Gaur, executive director, sales, LMI, had hinted about the launch of this venture while he was addressing the gathering on the business of magazine distribution in India.

LMI will handle distribution and subscription for both the MAXposure Media Group, and all the magazines that MAXposure Media plans to launch in the near future in the Indian market. Living Media will be responsible for the customer care of these publications as well.

‘&’, a luxury and lifestyle magazine, was launched in 2006 in the Indian market, and claims that its circulation has increased from 45,000 to 55,000 copies. But now with the distribution tie-up with Living Media, MAXposure expects to increase the magazine’s circulation to 75,000 copies in the next one year. The other title from the group, design and architecture magazine ‘Forms’, which was launched this year, plans to follow a similar growth strategy.

Next Gen Publishing has tied up with Living Media for distribution of 'FHM' since its launch in October. However, the subscriptions are being handled in-house by Next Gen.

Khushroo Bhadha

“Based on the success of this tie-up in the next six months, Next Gen will decide on whether to bring the other magazines under Living Media’s distribution network,” says Khushroo Bhadha, publisher, Next Gen.

Next Gen Publishing, owned by the Forbes Group, Emap and HDFC, offers content through niche and special interest magazines and business directories. Apart from ‘FHM’, Next Gen’s other publications include ‘Commercial Vehicle’, ‘Smart Photography’, ‘Bike India’, ‘Car India’, ‘Computer Active’, ‘The Ideal Home and Garden’ and Forbes Yellow Pages.

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