The deal will see Denmark-based digital magazines specialist NetPublications launch Monkey in Sweden, Denmark and Norway by the end of 2009. Also included in the agreement is the license to publish iGizmo and iMotor in these countries – all of which are planned for 2009.
Launched in the UK by Dennis Publishing in November 2006, Monkey was, according to the publishers, the world’s first digital men’s magazine and is delivered by email directly into the inboxes of its 16 to 30-year-old male audience. Sitting between traditional print titles and websites, Monkey is a media platform that provides readers and advertisers with audiovisual content and new interactive opportunities. The combined audience of Monkey, iGizmo and iMotor now exceeds 1.4million readers every month.
The new international magazines, whilst tailored to their local audiences, will share the look, feel and content of the UK magazine and will use the same Ceros digital magazine platform. Embedded media such as video clips of girls, funnies and movie trailers is contained within click-and-drag flat pages to create a high quality magazine environment. Readers can also share content with their friends or save it to their desktop. Each territory will follow the launch of Monkey magazine with the introduction of a website later in the year.
Each territory will operate and staff its magazine locally with Dennis Publishing in the UK providing advice on best practice. NetPublications’ database of subscribers will be used to encourage new subscribers to the magazine in the new locations.
In July 2008 Dennis Publishing signed an international licensing deal for Monkey when NetPublications launched the magazine in Thailand. To date 14 issues of Monkey have been published in Thailand and the magazine has attracted over 11,000 subscribers, with 50 new subscriptions added each day. Included in the new deal is the license to publish iGizmo in Thailand, the launch of which is also planned for 2009.
James Tye, CEO, Dennis Publishing, said: “The unique and environment that Monkey, iGizmo and iMotor offer to both readers and advertisers in the UK will now available in a host of new countries. We look forward to working closely with NetPublications to make the respective launches as successful as they have been in the UK.”
Torben Aagaard, Partner & CEO, NetPublications, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Dennis Publishing to extend the Monkey brand. Monkey is hugely popular with both its readers and advertisers in the UK and NetPublications is certain that this trend will be extended to the magazines’ new international territories.”
