Women's magazine market gets a $17m boost

Australia - The ultra competitive womens magazine market in Australia is about to get a boost, with two of the country's biggest publishers launching new titles.

News Limited this week announced that it would be spending A$10 million to launch a local version of the monthly magazine Glamour, under license from Condé Nast.

Glamour is the first magazine to be launched by News Limited, the Australian arm of the global News Corporation, since the company purchased FPC Magazines last year for an estimated A$150 million.

Glamour will go head-to-head with established titles Cleo, Madison and Cosmopolitan, all published by Australia's largest magazine group ACP Magazines.

“Glamour is an important addition to News Limited’s stable of world class and market leading titles and underlines our serious commitment to the beauty and fashion category," said John Hartigan, chairman and chief executive of News Limited.

"It also confirms News Magazines as Australia’s most dynamic magazine publisher.”

While not in direct competition to Glamour, ACP Magazine this week launched the weekly gossip and fashion title Grazia.

The launch of Grazia will be backed by a A$7 million marketing campaign.

ACP Magazines' group publisher women's lifestyle Pat Ingram, said she was confident the magazine wolld be a success.

"It has highly creative and experienced editorial and advertising teams whose passion will be reflected in the pages," she said.

"The response from advertisers has been remarkable and we are confident the same will be true from readers. This is an absorbing, exciting and eminently readable magazine that features an unrivalled mix of fashion, entertainment, news, trends and beauty.