Wikipedia

Bauer Media Group

(Redirected fromBauer Consumer Media)

Heinrich Bauer Publishing(German:Heinrich Bauer Verlag KG),trading asBauer Media Group,is a German multimedia conglomerate headquartered inHamburg.It operates worldwide and owns more than 600 magazines, over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations, as well as print shops, postal, distribution and marketing services. Bauer has a workforce of approximately 11,000 in 17 countries.[2]

Heinrich Bauer Verlag KG
Bauer Media Group
Company typePrivateKommanditgesellschaft
IndustryMedia
Founded1875;149 years ago(1875)
HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsMulti-platform media: print, digital, radio, TV; print houses, logistics, distribution and marketing services, online comparison platforms, Marketing and Sales Services for SME
Revenue€2.316 billion (2015)[1]
OwnerYvonne Bauer (85%)
Number of employees
11,500 (2015)[1]
Websitewww.bauermedia

Bauer Verlagsgruppe has been managed by five generations of the Bauer family.[3]In November 2010, Heinz Heinrich's daughterYvonne Bauerbecame CEO and 85% owner of the Bauer Media Group after joining the family business in 2005.[4]

In February 2021, Bauer Media Group announced it was to acquire Ireland'sCommunicorp Group,subject to regulatory approval.[5]The acquisition was completed on 1 June 2021.

H Bauer UK

edit

Originally a small printing house in Germany, Bauer Media Group entered the UK with the launch ofBellamagazine in 1987. Under the name of H Bauer Publishing they became Britain's third largest publisher. Bauer further expanded in the UK with the purchase ofEmapConsumer Media andEmap Radioin 2008.[4]

In the UK there are two divisions of the Bauer Media Group. The original UK business trades as H Bauer Publishing. Its sister company is known as Bauer Media (Bauer Consumer Media Ltd) with CEO Paul Keenan.[4]

H Bauer Publishing titles

edit

Titles include women's weekly and TV listings magazinesBella,Take a Break,that's life!,TV ChoiceandTotal TVGuidealong with a number of puzzle magazines.[citation needed]

In 1987,Bellawas H Bauer's first venture into publishing in the UK. In 1990, H Bauer launched a weekly women's magazine namedTake a Break.H Bauer also has a sister title,that's life!that launched in 1995. The H Bauer Publishing brand also includes puzzle magazines that carry theTake a Breakname.[6]

TV listings magazines

edit

In 1991, Bauer launched its first TV listings publishing with the launch ofTV Quickmagazine. (Prior to the de-regulation of TV listings in March 1991, BBC listings had been restricted by law toRadio Timesand ITV/Channel 4 listings toTV Times.)TV Quickceased publication in July 2010. In 1999 H Bauer launchedTV Choiceat a much lower price point than other titles on the market.TV Choiceovertook its main competitor in the February 2008 audited ABCs and has been the number one weekly newsstand magazine in the UK since. In September 2003, H Bauer launchedTotal TV Guideto cover the increasing number of programmes available onFreeviewand satellite or cable services.[7]

Bauer Media brands

edit

Bauer Media is a multi-platform media group, with locations across the UK. Following their purchase of Emap in 2007,[8]The Bauer Media Group acquired a collection of media brands. This includesheatandGraziaas well as a radio portfolio of national radio brands such asKISS FM UKandMagic,and regional radio brands across major UK cities. In 2013, Bauer Media also acquired theAbsolute RadioGroup from the publishers ofThe Times of India.[9]

Bauer Media also formerly broadcast TV music channels including The Box TV, in ajoint venturewithChannel 4.In the UK Bauer Media is the sister company of H Bauer Publishing, who publish titles including Take a Break.[10]

Music publications

edit

Qbegan as amusic magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. Originally it was to be called Cue (named after the act of cueing a record to play). However the name was changed so that it would not be mistaken for asnookermagazine. TheQmusic brand has expanded to Radio and Television, withQ RadioandQ TVbeing music entertainment that specialises in indie, rock and alternative.Qalso holds annual music awards in the UK, known asQ Awards.In spring 2010, Bauer attempted to unilaterally impose a new contract on all photographers and writers, which was set to take away their copyright and off-load liability for libel or copyright infringement from the publisher onto the contributor. 200 photographers and writers fromQand Bauer's other music magazines,Kerrang!andMojo,were reported as refusing to work under the new terms.[11][needs update]

In 2020,Qmagazine was scrapped alongside sister publicationPlanet Rock[12](joining real-life publicationSimply You,Practical Photographyand car magazineModern Classicsas titles closed by Bauer) as a buyer could not be found to continue the publication beyond issue Q415, withKelsey Mediadeciding to buySea Angler,Car MechanicsandYour Horseinstead.[13]

Kerrang!
edit
Kerrang logo

Kerrang!is a brand that specialises in rock music.[14]It was originally a magazine with Kerrang! Radio being launched in 2004. Bauer acquired the Kerrang! brand in 2008, which also included music channelKerrang! TV(existing as part ofThe Box Plus Network). As of 2005, all of Kerrang! TV's programme content is music videos, the majority of which is open scheduled for text requests from their playlist.[citation needed]In April 2017, the magazine was sold toMixmag'spublisher Wasted Talent[15]with Kerrang! TV/The Box Plus Network coming under the full ownership of Channel 4 in January 2019.

Other publications

edit

Mother and Babyis parenting website and set of awards aimed at helping parents with advice and product reviews that help them buy well.

The Debriefwas an online magazine aimed atABC1women in their 20s launched in 2014 in competition withMail OnlineandStylist.[citation needed]It was closed in 2018.

Empireis a monthly film magazine. Launched in the UK in 1989, it is now also published in the US, Australia, Turkey, Russia and Portugal. Its annualEmpire Awardsare voted for by its readers.[16]

Closerwas launched by Bauer Media in 2002. It specialises mainly in celebrity news and gossip, real-life stories and television/entertainment.[17]

The UK edition ofGraziawas launched in 2005 as the first glossy woman's weekly magazine in the country.[18]

Launched in 1999,heatis a British celebrity weekly.[19]Its main focus is celebrity interviews, gossip, fashion advice and entertainment.

Yoursis a fortnightly lifestyle magazine and website targeting women aged 50 and over, launched in 1974. It covers issues including health, relevant news, fashion and beauty.[20]

Motor Cycle News(MCN) launched as a newspaper in 1955. The brand now has an online presence and is a digital business, with sub-brands including MCN compare, a motorcycle insurance comparison service andMCNclassified Bikes for Sale.MCNcovers news on all major motorcycle sporting events as well as bike and equipment tests.[21]

Parker's Car Guideis a monthly magazine and, more recently, a website listing prices for new and used cars in the UK. It was founded in 1972 and is the longest-running print price guide in the UK. The website was launched in 1999 and it provides news, advice information as well as cars for sale and additional services such as insurance, to car buyers.[22]

AM (Automotive Management),together with its online counterpart has been a source of news, insight and analysis for the UK automotive industry since 1990.[23]

Pregnancy & Birthwas a British magazine aimed atpregnant women.It was part of the Bauer Media Group.[24]It gave out information about pregnancy, products for pregnant women, and it shares other women's stories of childbirth experiences.[25][26]Between January and June 2011,Pregnancy & Birthhad a circulation of 26,775 copies.[27]

Bauer Media Audio

edit
See also:Bauer Media Audio UK
Rádio Comerciallogo

Bauer Media currently has radio operations in the UK, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.[28]It operates over 150 radio brands, including Absolute Radio, KISS, Hits Radio Network, Magic, RMF, and Mix Megapol.

In 2021, the company announced it was about to buy Mediatakojat Oy in Finland (owner of Radio Pori 89.4 and Radio City Mikkeli)[29]and moved into the Irish market by buying Denis O'Brien's Communicorp group.[30]

In February 2022, Media Capital Group in Portugal announced that it had come to an agreement with the Bauer Group to sell all their radio stations for around 70 million Euros, marking the entry of the Bauer Group into the Portuguese market.[31]

The Box Plus Network

edit

Bauer Media Group held a 50% stake in the British television companyThe Box Plus Networkuntil the other owner, British broadcaster Channel Four Television Corporation, bought the whole stake in January 2019.[citation needed]

Bauer Media Australia and New Zealand

edit
"Noted" redirects here. Not to be confused withNotability.

In September 2012, Bauer Media bought ACP Magazines (formerlyAustralian Consolidated Press) from London-based private equity firm,CVC Capital Partnersand Australian media companyNine Entertainmentfor an estimated A$500 million, completing the purchase the following month.[32][33][34]This purchase included theAustralian Women's Weekly,Cleo,Cosmo,Harper's Bazaar,Women's Day,andZoomagazines. As a result, ACP Magazines was rebranded as Bauer Media.[35][36]

In March 2020, Bauer boughtPacific MagazinesfromSeven West Media;acquiringNew Idea,Who,Diabetic Living,Men's Health,Women's Health,Better Homes & GardensandGirlfriend.[37]

On 2 April 2020, Bauer Media Group announced that it would wind up its New Zealand magazine titles in direct response to magazines having been stopped from being published underNew Zealand's Level 4 restrictionsin response to theCOVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.This led to the suspension of several titles includingWoman's Day,New Zealand Woman's Weekly,theNew Zealand Listener,The Australian Women's Weekly,North & South,Next,Metro,Air New Zealand's inflight magazineKia Ora,andYour Home & Garden,leaving about 200 former employees unemployed. While Broadcasting MinisterKris Faafoisaid that the Government could have provided financial relief through a wage subsidy scheme or the business finance guarantee, the company had not sought it.[38][39][40][41]Many of the magazines previously owned by Bauer publish articles on the website Noted (noted.co.nz).[42]In June 2020, Bauer Media Australia was sold toMercury Capital.[43][44]In September 2020, Bauer Media Australia was rebranded asAre Media.[45][46]

Rebel Wilson v Bauer Media Group

edit

In 2017, Bauer Media Group was successfully sued by the Australian actorRebel Wilsonfor defamation in theSupreme Court of Victoriain Melbourne, Australia. This was the biggest payout for defamation of its kind in Australian legal history.[47]

Bauer Media Group allegedly printed a series of lies and false articles against the actress in an attempt to defame her. This reportedly led to the actress being overlooked for a number of big Hollywood roles. Wilson was awarded A$4,567,472. The award consisted of $650,000 in general damages and $3,917,472 in special damages.[48]

Wilson's lawyer Richard Leder, said "Today's verdict is a significant record — it's about four times the highest previous verdict in a defamation case in Australia".

While the guilty defamation decision stands the amount of payment was later appealed and reduced.[49]Wilson announced in July 2018 she will be taking the matter further to a higher court in Australia.

Bauer Media Group USA

edit

Bauer Media Group entered the US market in 1981 with the launch ofWoman's Worldmagazine. Bauer Media Group USA had a portfolio of 13 magazines, five special interest publications and 16 websites across several distinct consumer segments: celebrity/entertainment, women's, teen and science/technology.[citation needed]

In 1989, the company introduced its second publication,First for Women,a women's magazine.Alliance for Audited Mediareports thatWoman's WorldandFirst for Womenare the #1 and #2 selling magazines at retail, respectively.[50]

The company's popular teen brands includeTwist,launched in 1997;J-14,launched in 1999;M,launched in 2000;Girls' World;launched in 2013, andAnimal Tales,launched in 2014.J-14ranks in the top five media brands for social media presence among all publishers according to Shareablee, a social media research company.[51]

In Touch Weekly,a celebrity/entertainment weekly magazine, was introduced in the U.S. in November 2002. It was the first launch of a new celebrity magazine in the U.S. in more than a decade and ranks in the top 10 magazines sold at retail in the country, according to theAlliance for Audited Media.[50]

The company debutedLife & Style Weekly,a celebrity and fashion weekly, in 2004. Adding its third celebrity weekly in October 2013, Bauer Media introduced an American edition ofCloser Weekly,geared towards women 40+. All three entertainment titles were awarded with Media Industry Newsletter's "Hottest Launch of the Year" award in their respective launch years.Closer Weeklytied for the title withDr. Oz The Good Lifein the 2014 ceremony.[52]

Bauer Media US launched Bauer Xcel Media, a digital division, in August 2014.[53]

In 2018, Bauer sold all but its women's magazines andiDtoAmerican Media, Inc.[54]It sold its remaining American titles (Woman's World,First for Women,Soaps in Depth) in 2022 to the company now known asA360media.[55]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ab"Geschäftsjahr 2015: Bauer Media Group steigert Umsatz".bauermedia.23 September 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 17 January 2019.Retrieved9 November2017.
  2. ^"Our company".Bauer Media.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2021.Retrieved22 April2020.
  3. ^"Yvonne Bauer".Forbes.Archivedfrom the original on 28 March 2019.Retrieved28 March2019.
  4. ^abc"How will Europe's secretive media giant cope?".Flashes & Flames.15 February 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 7 September 2015.Retrieved16 August2015.
  5. ^"Bauer Media Audio to acquire Communicorp Group".Newstalk.25 February 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2021.Retrieved25 February2021.
  6. ^"Take a Break".bauermedia.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 28 March 2017.Retrieved27 March2017.
  7. ^"H Bauer Goes Totally TV With New Listings Title".mediatel.co.uk.16 September 2003.Archivedfrom the original on 16 May 2021.Retrieved9 March2021.
  8. ^"Bauer Media Group purchase emap".Independent.co. 11 October 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2019.Retrieved8 September2014.
  9. ^"Bauer Media acquired Absolute Radio Group".The Guardian.29 July 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 30 April 2021.Retrieved8 September2014.
  10. ^"Bauer Media Group offers music channels".The Guardian.20 January 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 8 September 2014.Retrieved8 September2014.
  11. ^Stephen Armstrong."Bauer's freelancers up in arms over new contracts".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 15 November 2016.Retrieved7 April2015.
  12. ^"Q magazine's demise signals the end of the old music press".The Guardian.20 July 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2020.Retrieved4 October2020.
  13. ^"Q magazine closes after 34 years under Bauer's post-Covid plans".Press Gazette.20 July 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 22 July 2020.Retrieved22 July2020.
  14. ^"Kerrang!".Kerrang!.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2011.Retrieved4 October2020.
  15. ^"Wasted Talent".wastedtalent.Archivedfrom the original on 3 October 2020.Retrieved4 October2020.
  16. ^"Oximity".oximity.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  17. ^Stephen Brook. (12 July 2007).Ennis appointed First editorArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback MachineThe Guardian.Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  18. ^Louise France (11 March 2007)."What's in it for me? Grazia's world uncovered".the Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  19. ^"PPA: Heat appoints Lucie Cave as Editor".Archived fromthe originalon 21 October 2014.Retrieved16 October2014.
  20. ^"Sharon Reid appointed editor of Yours magazine".pressgazette.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 29 October 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  21. ^"MCN appoints Andy Calton to editor".FeaturesExec.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  22. ^InPublishing."News: Bauer Media's http:// parkers.co.uk's abc-e results: InPublishing".inpublishing.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  23. ^Jeremy Bennett."AMThe automotive industry's most influential media publication".Bauer Media.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2015.Retrieved19 January2015.
  24. ^Jenni Baker (5 October 2012)."Bauer Media takes stake in e-commerce start-up".M&M Global.London. Archived fromthe originalon 9 September 2014.Retrieved30 July2015.
  25. ^John Reynolds (12 December 2012)."Bauer Media appoints first editor-in-chief across parenting titles".Campaign.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved30 July2015.
  26. ^"Bauer appoints Ellie Hughes as editor at Top Santé".New Statesman.21 October 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 5 March 2016.Retrieved30 July2015.
  27. ^Mayer Nissim (18 August 2011)."FHM, Heat, Zoo sales slump in Bauer Media magazine ABCs".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2012.Retrieved30 July2015.
  28. ^"Bauer Media Audio".Bauer Media.Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2021.Retrieved13 April2022.
  29. ^"Etusivu | Radio Pori 89,4 – Paikallinen"(in Finnish). Radiopori.fi.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2021.Retrieved29 April2022.
  30. ^"Bauer Media set to acquire Ireland's Communicorp Group".RadioToday.25 February 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2021.Retrieved13 April2022.
  31. ^"Media Capital vende rádios a alemães da Bauer por 69,6 milhões de euros".ionline(in Portuguese).Archivedfrom the original on 30 March 2022.Retrieved4 February2022.
  32. ^"Family tosses a lifeline as gloss wears off ACP".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 26 October 2017.Retrieved4 September2020.
  33. ^Kruger, Colin (2 October 2012)."Bauer takes control of ACP".The Sydney Morning Herald.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
  34. ^"Experts welcome Bauer takeover of ACP".Nine News.Australian Associated Press.5 September 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
  35. ^Holgate, Ben; Ruehl, Mercedes (13 December 2012)."ACP rebranded as Bauer Media".Australian Financial Review.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
  36. ^"Nine Entertainment to sell ACP Magazines to Bauer Media Group".Bauer Media Group. 4 September 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2020.Retrieved4 September2020.
  37. ^Kelly, Vivienne (26 March 2020)."Bauer Media given all clear to acquire Seven West Media's Pacific Magazines".Mumbrella.Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2020.Retrieved30 September2020.
  38. ^Edmunds, Susan; Nadkarni, Anuja; Cookes, Henry (2 April 2020)."Govt 'could have given half-a-million' to help Bauer but publisher didn't want it, Faafoi says".Stuff.Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2020.Retrieved2 April2020.
  39. ^"Covid 19 coronavirus: Bauer Media closing - publisher of the Listener, Woman's Day, North & South".The New Zealand Herald.2 April 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2020.Retrieved2 April2020.
  40. ^"Covid-19: Major magazine publisher Bauer Media closing down".Radio New Zealand.2 April 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2020.Retrieved2 April2020.
  41. ^"Publisher of NZ Listener, Woman's Weekly, North & South to shut down".The Spinoff.2 April 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2020.Retrieved2 April2020.
  42. ^"About".Noted.Archivedfrom the original on 8 July 2020.Retrieved8 July2020.
  43. ^Whyte, Jemina (19 June 2020)."Magazine buyer writes new story".Australian Financial Review.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2020.Retrieved17 July2020.
  44. ^Kelly, Vivienne (17 June 2020)."Bauer Media sold to Mercury Capital".Mumbrella.Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2020.Retrieved3 September2020.
  45. ^Blackiston, Hannah (28 September 2020)."Bauer Media rebrands as Are Media".Mumbrella.Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2020.Retrieved30 September2020.
  46. ^"Rebrand and Relaunch: Australasia's Bauer Media now titled Are Media".StopPress.28 September 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2020.Retrieved30 September2020.
  47. ^Holding Redlich (25 September 2017)."Rebel Wilson wins largest defamation payout in Australian history".Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2021.Retrieved9 March2021.
  48. ^Davidson, Helen (13 September 2017)."Rebel Wilson wins $4.56m damages from Bauer in record libel settlement".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2020.Retrieved13 September2017.
  49. ^"Rebel Wilson ordered to repay millions in defamation case".BBC News.27 June 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2020.
  50. ^ab"Top 25 U.S. Consumer Magazines for June 2014 - Alliance for Audited Media".auditedmedia.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2015.Retrieved7 April2015.
  51. ^Shareablee."Shareablee Social Scorecard Reveals Top 10 Media Publishers for November 2014".shareablee.Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2015.Retrieved7 April2015.
  52. ^"MinOnline:: Press Release: Most Intriguing Awards Celebration".minonline.Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2015.Retrieved7 April2015.
  53. ^"Behind Bauer's New Digital Division".Folio.28 August 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2014.Retrieved7 April2015.
  54. ^"Bauer Media sells most of US portfolio – 17 titles down to just four".Mediaweek.18 June 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2018.Retrieved29 July2018.
  55. ^"A360 Media to Acquire U.S. Publishing Portfolio from Bauer Media Group".Archivedfrom the original on 30 September 2022.Retrieved30 September2022.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bauer_Media_Group&oldid=1252374826"