The Thai language monthly was launched by consumer publisher Plus One Media Company Limited under licence from Haymarket Media Group.
It is selling nationwide for 100 baht, the equivalent of roughly £1.80 or just under US$3, and has an initial print run of 150,000.
Publishing director Dr Pakorn Tansiri said: “Although there are already a number of football news outlets in Thailand – from daily news websites and weekly papers to glossy monthlies – FourFourTwo Thailand is taking a unique position in that it is Thailand’s most insightful and first football lifestyle magazine.”
Pre-launch marketing for the title included banner advertising on local football fan sites and some of the most popular official club sites.
“Football is Thailand’s favourite sport, and so Thai fans are already very focused on getting their football news,” said Haymarket’s Hugh Sleight, brand director of FourFourTwo. “However, we think FourFourTwo will bring something different to discerning fans in Thailand – entertaining, informative, well-written stories about the world game that are a cut above anything else on offer.”
Edward Marr, Haymarket’s licensing manager in Asia, added: “With the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 fast approaching it is a really exciting time for FourFourTwo to launch in Thailand. We know Thais are crazy about at all levels football from EPL to AFC and the local leagues and look forward to publishing the best football media in the market for readers and sponsors alike.”
FourFourTwo will soon be published in 15 markets including its original UK home. The title already has a strong presence in Asia Pacific, with FourFourTwo Thailand joining editions in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore and South Korea.
