Hotdog(magazine)

Hotdog Magazinewas afilmmagazinefirst published in theUnited Kingdomin 2000. Its publisher, Highbury Entertainment, claimed an average circulation of 17,132 between July and December 2003. By December 2005 sales were down to 13,659, and by its last edition they were thought to have fallen to just 7,000.

Hotdog

Managing Editor	Richard Olsen
Categories	Film magazine
Circulation	7,000 (as of 2006)
Publisher	SMD Publishing
Founded	2000
Final issue	2006
Company	Remnant Media
Country	United Kingdom
Based in	London
Language	English
ISSN	1470-9260

As it tended toward a cynical view of the film industry (especiallyHollywood), Hotdog could have been regarded as an editoriallypartisanpublication. It usually avoided jumping on theblockbusterbandwagon and frequently published pieces which appeared to be contrary to widespread opinion (such as an iconoclastic item onStar Wars,for instance).

However, over the past couple of years the magazine veered more towards the mainstream film press, with the notable change being its cover policy: initially Hotdog covers were often illustrations or images of cult, historical or alternative characters from film, referenced within that issue in one way or another, but towards the end of its life - along with a new, glossy cover material - this changed to the more standard practice of putting the current star of the moment there instead. This was largely a decision imposed by management for commercial reasons; veiled (or not so veiled) references to the magazine staff's displeasure at the practice can be found in several issues.

History

The magazine was originally published by I Feel Good Ltd, before being sold to Paragon Publishing in 2002. Paragon was bought by Highbury House Communications PLC in 2003, becoming first Highbury-Paragon and later Highbury Entertainment. Following Highbury House's financial collapse in 2005, the Highbury Entertainment magazines were sold off to various other companies, includingFuture Publishingand Imagine Publishing. Hotdog was sold to SMD Publishing in early 2006, who closed the magazine in November 2006.

Media Weekreported that SMD Publishing were to close the title unless a buyer could be found. Richard Olsen, managing editor, said, "Hotdog is an exceptional magazine, but not economically viable in its current form".

In August 2009Marketing Weekannounced thatHotdog Magazinehad been acquired along withFront magazineby The Kane Corporation, an independent publishing company led by 24-year-old self made millionaire entrepreneurDominic McVeyand managing director of talent agency Money, Francis Ridley.No plans for Hotdog have been announced by The Kane Corporation, however on 7 February 2014 McVey announced his intention to closeFront.

Subscribers

Due to the rapid way in which the magazine closed and the circumstances of the staff, subscribers were not offered compensation by way of a transference or refund, without independently contacting Dovetail, the contracted subscription company.