Mag Bag: RBI For Sale, Bonnier and Rodale Lose Execs

Publisher's Weekly The business-to-business publishing business was busy this week, with the announcement from Reed-Elsevier Thursday that it is putting most of the American magazines in its Reed Business Information portfolio up for sale after "a very difficult first half." The magazines for sale include some familiar media trade publications, like Broadcasting & Cable and Publishers Weekly. However, RBI is holding on to Variety, Reed Construction Data, MarketCast, and some other non-media trade publications.

advertisement

advertisement

Also on Thursday, Reed announced that Tad Smith, the CEO of RBI-USA, is leaving the company, effective August 31. Reed has already announced a replacement: John Pulin, previously CFO.

This is the second time in as many years that Reed has put its American B2B business up for sale. RBI launched a tentative auction in 2008, but then changed its mind when the bids were unsatisfactory, reflecting the worsening economic situation. But the announcement from RBI's global CEO Keith Jones was not particularly surprising. B2B titles have long suffered from Internet competition, combined more recently with the effects of one of the worst recessions in decades.

Still, RBI is unlikely to attract bids matching those it rejected a year ago, which totaled about $1 billion; the decision to go ahead and sell the titles indicates just how bad the B2B print advertising situation has become. Total global revenues at RBI fell 17% in the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period last year, when currency fluctuations are taken into account. In current U.S. dollar terms, they fell from $877 million last year to $728 million this year. U.S. revenues, which make up 30% of the international business, fell 26%. Overall, Reed Elsevier carries just under $8.5 billion in debt.

People.com Lands Big Fish Games

People.com revealed that it has struck a deal with Big Fish Games, which produces casual online games, giving visitors to People.com access to all of Big Fish's free and paid word games, puzzles and the like. People.com is also launching a daily feature, "A New Game Every Day," drawing visitors' attention to new or particularly popular games from Big Fish.

Chris Allen Leaves Bonnier

Bonnier Corp. revealed that Chris Allen is resigning his post as vice president and group publisher for Bonnier's travel and lifestyle titles, just a month after taking the job. Bonnier and Allen cited conflicting expectations about the nature of the work as the reason for his departure, which was said to be amicable. Bonnier is not naming a replacement for the position, which was a new role created for Allen.

Rodale Prez and CEO Murphy Resigns

Steven Pleshette Murphy is resigning his position as president and CEO of Rodale Inc., publisher of Men's Health, according to the Mediaweek Web site, which first reported the news Thursday. With Murphy's departure, the business is returning to family control: Maria Rodale is set to take the helm on Sept. 1. Rodale said Murphy was leaving voluntarily.

Next story loading loading..