Speculation has emerged that men’s lifestyle magazine FHM will be shutting down, following declining sales and advertising support.<\/p>\n
This is according to an anonymous blogger, known as “MediaSlut”, who purports to know “way too much for his own good about media in South Africa”.<\/p>\n
Media24 said it is currently in consultation with both the editorial team of FHM magazine and the licensor (Bauer Media UK) regarding the future of the magazine.<\/p>\n
MediaSlut\u00a0said that FHM staff were informed of the closure on Monday (7 April).<\/p>\n
Cited amongst reasons for the move was a lack of advertising support for the magazine, as well dropping circulation numbers.<\/p>\n
In response to questions posed by BusinessTech,\u00a0Jacques Breytenbach, GM: Lifestyle at Media24 Magazines said: “Media24 Magazines are in consultation with both the editorial team of FHM magazine and the licensor (Bauer Media UK) regarding the future of the magazine in the Media24 stable.”<\/p>\n
“We do, however, consider these consultations as confidential and we are unfortunately not at liberty to divulge any further information at this stage. We will only be able to do so once the consultations have been concluded,” Breytenbach said.<\/p>\n
FHM has seen a steep decline in its circulation figures over the last few years.<\/p>\n
The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa (ABC) circulation figures for Q4 2013 showed that FHM’s circulation stood at 25,690. In 2005 it was selling 117,365 copies per issue.<\/p>\n
Print publications in South Africa have faced a difficult market, with declining readers and declining print numbers over the past two years.<\/p>\n
In December 2012, iconic sports magazine Sports Illustrated was also forced to cease operation following declining revenue and circulation figures, while health and wellness title, Shape, closed in October 2012.<\/p>\n
In May 2013, Playboy SA announced it would end its print run and go digital, after the \u201churdle of conservative readers\u201d had proved too much for the magazine.<\/p>\n
In July, Media24 Magazines confirmed that it would cease to publish B2B magazine, AdVantage, after 20 years of circulation.<\/p>\n
Media24 News then announced in October 2012 that its Afrikaans Sunday tabloid, Sondag, would also be closing \u2013 this, some months after 24.com announced its decision to disband its Afrikaans Nuus24 channel, in June.<\/p>\n
Newspapers have faced a sharp fall in print numbers as well, with ABC’s circulation statistics for the period October 2013 \u2014 December 2013 showing drops across the board for SA’s daily, weekly and weekend papers.<\/p>\n
Keep calm and carry on, print media<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Another SA print title closes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Print media grappling with the digital boom<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n