Contact:
Mia Carbonell
Rodale Inc.
Ph: 212.808.1472 Fax: 212.808.1452
Mia.Carbonell@Rodale.com
Partnership with Pacific Magazines Will Produce First International Edition of the Magazine Brand
New York, June 4, 2007 -- Rodale Inc., the authoritative source for trusted content in health and wellness worldwide, announced today the launch of Women's Health Australia under a license with Pacific Magazines based in Sydney, Australia. The launch, expected in late 2007, marks the first international edition of the magazine brand.
"The launch of Women's Health Australia is very important to Rodale, since it will be the first international edition of this successful brand," said Rodale Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Steve Kalin. "Women's Health is one of the fastest-growing magazines in the U.S. and is expected to reach 1 million circulation just two years after launch. We think there are very strong opportunities for the title in the Australian market, and we are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Pacific Magazines with this agreement."
Pacific Magazines has successfully published Rodale's Men's Health in Australia since 2004.
Nick Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Magazines said, "We are about building our presence in Australian publishing and developing new titles that enhance and strengthen our presence. The success of Men's Health - which has grown successfully in circulation and readership over the past three years - and our track record of success in creating new titles, in particular those which leverage existing brands - provides us with the confidence to further expand our presence with the launch of Women's Health."
Women's Health officially launched in the U.S. in October 2005 with a rate base of 400,000. The lifestyle magazine has experienced explosive growth and continues to gain traction among a growing audience and advertisers alike. Just two years after its introduction it is expected to have a circulation of 1 million.
According to ABC Rapid Report, Women's Health increased its rate base from 600,000 to 750,000 in January 2007, delivering 12.2 percent over rate base for the Jan/Feb 2007 issue and 3.8 percent for the March 2007 issue. Cumulatively, for the two issues in 2007, the title has delivered eight percent over rate base. The brand is slated to increase rate base again this year to 850,000 with the July/August issue.
In its first year of eligibility, in the U.S. the magazine ranked #4 in Adweek magazine's annual "Top 10 Under 50" Hot List for titles under $50 million in ad revenues.
Commenting, Paul Dykzeul, Pacific's Publisher of the monthly and homemaker titles said, "Women's Health has been, over the past two years, one of the great publishing stories and fastest growing magazines in the U.S. We have built a strong relationship with Rodale. We are looking forward to working with them to secure success for Women's Health in the Australian market.
"We see the forthcoming launch of Women's Health as a driver in further building our presence in the lucrative and growing women's lifestyle market. Women's Health magazine will be fresh, smart, informative, and inspiring. It will speak to today's active, youthful women in a way that is passionate, authoritative, and relevant to their lifestyles."
