Hachette Shutters Shock, Mag To Continue Online

Only six months after launching Shock magazine, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. is closing the title--but plans to maintain the magazine's companion Web site, ShockU.com.

"After six months in the marketplace, Shock's performance at newsstands has not produced trends that indicate that we will get the returns that we are looking for," Jack Kliger, president and CEO of Hachette Filipacchi, said in a statement.

Eight staffers, including Editor in Chief Mike Hammer, were laid off in connection with the shutdown of Shock. The final issue will be the February publication on newsstands Dec. 26.

Unlike the magazine, the audience for ShockU.com has grown during the last six months and receives 41 page-views per session, one of the highest levels for Hachette sites.

The company plans to redesign and relaunch the site next spring. A Hachette spokesperson declined to provide traffic figures for ShockU.com. The publisher made a similar move early this year when it shut ELLEgirl, but relaunched the magazine's site in October.

Also this year, Time Inc. decided to shutterTeen People in print, but continue the magazine online.

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