• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, May 23, 2013

Bonnier, Source Interlink Swap Mags

Enthusiast publisher Bonnier Corp. continued wheeling and dealing this week with the purchase of a biker gang’s worth of motorcycle titles from Source Interlink Media, including Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Dirt Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper and ATV Rider. Together with Bonnier’s Cycle World, the new titles will form a new Motorcycle Group.
 
Bonnier is also selling a number of tech and sports enthusiast publications to Source Interlink, including Sound + Vision, TransWorld SNOWboarding, TransWorld Motocross, TransWorld SKATEboarding, TransWorld SURF, TransWorld RIDEbmx and TransWorld Business. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
 
Bonnier CEO Dave Freygang stated: “The acquisition supports Bonnier’s strategy to be focused in vertical enthusiast interest media. We believe in going deep into selected verticals, and it’s essential that our brands be in a leadership position within those verticals. Since the acquisition of Cycle World in 2011, we’ve realized that the opportunities within the motorcycle market are significant.”
 
Last week, Bonnier announced plans to sell Parenting and Parenting School Years to Meredith Corp., which plans to fold their print editions and incorporate the brands into Parents magazine.

Shocker: Time Inc. Is Hiring
 
Yes, you read that right: Time Inc., a magazine publisher, is actually hiring people, according to Adweek. Time.com is hiring 30 new staffers in preparation for a relaunch planned for the fall. That’s a 50% increase over the current staffing levels. Over half of the new hires will be for the editorial team, with a significant number also going to beefing up mobile operations. 

Esquire Launches Weekly iPad Edition
 
Monthly men’s mag lifestyle Esquire is increasing its digital frequency, with the debut of a new weekly edition for the iPad that subscribers receive for free. Esquire Weekly will be delivered three times a month, leaving room for the monthly edition in the fourth week. Content will include original articles and features as well as content drawn from Esquire.com. The publication is ad-supported and available to non-subscribers for $0.99 per issue.
 
Rodale Launches e-Commerce Platform
 
Healthy lifestyle publisher Rodale is launching an e-commerce platform, Rodale’s, dedicated to “luxury and sustainably sourced goods." The site will sell goods handpicked for quality and sustainability, in categories including apparel, accessories and beauty, kitchen and garden, fitness, bed and bath, gifts and books, and general care. At launch, Rodale’s carries brands like Stewart+Brown, Vapour, Gabrielle Sanchez, Riess, Eileen Fisher and Intelligent Nutrients, among others. The site will also carry original editorial content, including video and product stories.
 
Modern Luxury Acquires Scottsdale
 
Modern Luxury has acquired the Scottsdale magazine trademark and related intellectual property from Michael Kong, the luxury regional magazine publisher announced. Publication of the magazine ceased from 2010 to the present, but will resume publication in November of this year, with a planned schedule of 10 issues per year. Scottsdale is the 43rd magazine owned by Modern Luxury, following other recent acquisitions like Aspen magazine. Modern Luxury also plans to launch a new title, Beach, serving the Hamptons on Memorial Day.
 
Baron To Exec. Editor, Defense One
 
Atlantic Media has hired Kevin Baron as executive editor of Defense One, its new online publication serving the defense and national security communities. Baron previously served as national security reporter for Foreign Policy, where he also authored the E-Ring blog covering the Pentagon, defense and national security. He has been reporting on these issues for 15 years. Prior to Foreign Policy, he worked at publications including National Journal, Stars and Stripes and The Boston Globe. He is vice president of the Pentagon Press Association.