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Ski magazine goes digital
Wednesday September 1, 2010 - Email this article to a friend
The US publication, Skiing Magazine, is ending its main print run and is moving to a downloadable format. Does it herald the end of the traditional skiing magazine?
People who have taken out a subscription will still get 2 printed copies and the printed editions of its sister publication, Ski. But for the rest of the magazine's readers they will need to go online for full content.
Just two printed editions of the magazine will be produced for news stands and retail outlets. Ten editions will be available via the web on a paid for, subscription basis.
Prices will be revealed later in the Autumn.
The publishers say that it's not simply a case of the magazine being available in a digital format, but rather the company is making use of the available technology to create a different product and experience.
It is, apparently, what readers now want.
It will be called Skiing Interactive.
Here at PlanetSKI we have seen a trailer of the web site and it looks pretty exciting.
The publishers also recognise that many people, especially the younger generations, spend more time on line now and not leafing through magazines.
The editorial brand director, Sam Bass, has gone on to a US chat forum to explain the situation.
"Our new publication, Skiing Interactive, is a downloadable file loaded with the same content Skiing readers have always loved, but in an interactive, digital format. It is not an "online" product, though it will offer enhanced functionality if you're connected to the web while viewing. It will be published 10 times each season."
On line only?So, does this herald the end of the ski magazine?
Circulations have been falling and the advertisers are moving rapidly over to web sites to promote their products.
Most magazines are funded by advertising so for some it is becoming economically unviable.
Here at PlanetSKI we are obviously biased, as we are a web site and only appear on-line, but we have been staggered by the number of companies contacting us directly and wanting to advertise or be covered on the web site as they realise this is where the numbers now are.
We are not even chasing them.
They want to be where the greatest audience is. On line.
Now we are not convinced it will be the end of the ski magazine, far from it, but it does mark a significant development.
If you are a friend of our content editor, James Cove, on Facebook then see here for a few comments on whether people think ski magazines are old hat or not. If you're not a friend then ask to become one.
For the spirit of the mountains
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Not sure it will be end of the ski magazine but i never look at them anymore as they are just stuffed full of adverts and long articles by some journalist on a free trip. Nice pictures though.
John, Surrey
You are correct about SKI, but SKIING subscribers will not receive the two printed special editions in the mail. They'll have to buy them at the newsstand like anyone else.
I personally enjoy a printed magazine in addition to online outlets. Sitting on the sofa (or a certain porcelain chair :-)), a magazine is physically more comfortable to hold versus a laptop. Maybe if I had an iPad I'd think differently though.
Eric Wagnon, Chicago, United States
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