The review has concluded that one brand will move to a digital and event based format, one will be merged, three titles will close after publication of their final issue and five titles remain in active discussions to move into potential new ownership, says Bauer Media.
Mother & Baby will move to a digital and event based format. By making the digital platform its core focus the brand will accelerate the growth it’s seen and reach more people than ever before in the format they want to use, says Bauer. The brand’s Mother & Baby Awards, now in their 27 year, and with already over 3,000 mums recruited to put the products out to test, will run as normal and the winners will be celebrated at its annual event in November. The last printed and downloadable digital editions of Mother & Baby magazine will be the August issue, on sale on 8 July 2020.
Golf World is to unite with Today’s Golfer. Bauer says: “The all-new Today’s Golfer will combine great coverage with yet more content including the best golf news, exclusive golf tips from the biggest names in the game, advice on the best gear from golf balls to golf trolleys, reviews of the best courses in the world, instruction and brilliant features. Plus, the new magazine will still be delivering the comprehensive industry leading Top 100 rankings - Golf World Top 100 Golf Courses: GB&I; Golf World Top 100 Golf Courses: Continental Europe; Golf World Top 100 Golf Resorts: GB&I; and Golf World Top 100 Golf Resorts: Continental Europe.”
The last standalone issue of Golf World and downloadable digital edition will be the August issue, on sale on 16 July 2020.
The company has decided that three of its titles – Simply You, Practical Photography and Planet Rock magazines – are unlikely to be sustainable after the crisis and therefore will cease publication.
The final issue of Simply You will be the July Issue, published on 2 July, Practical Photography will be the August issue on sale 2 July, and Planet Rock will be Issue 22 on sale 31 July.
Bauer says it is currently in advanced stages of negotiations with potential new owners for Q, Car Mechanics, Modern Classics, Your Horse and Sea Angler. This includes the brand’s print publications and digital properties. The business is hopeful of a timely conclusion to these confidential discussions, in order to give clarity to teams and readers as to the future of the titles.
Chris Duncan, CEO UK Publishing, said: “In order to protect the long-term health of our publishing business we have had to make tough decisions about the future of some much-loved titles. While some magazines sadly will close, we remain hopeful that a number will continue to publish under new ownership. We remain fully committed and positive about the strength of our remaining portfolio.”
