New business model for ACP, ninemsn

ACP Magazines and ninemsn today announced a series of major changes to the operation of their magazine websites.

ninemsn, a joint venture between Microsoft and PBL Media, currently manages a number of the online versions of magazines within ACP including Australian Women’s Weekly, Woman’s Day, Grazia, Slimming and Health, Dolly, Ralph, Money and Good Health & Medicine.

Under the changes announced today, ninemsn will take on responsibility for the bulk of the ACP magazine sites including Cleo, Real Living, House & Garden, Wheels, Zoo, TV Week, Mother and Baby and Gourmet Traveller, in addition to the soon to be developed destination websites for Homes and Motoring.

ACP Magazines will continue to manage the online versions of its joint venture titles, which it publishes in partnership with the Hearst Corporation and the BBC, including Cosmopolitan, Madison, Harpers Bazaar and Top Gear.

As a result of the new business arrangement, which takes effect on July 1 2009, 35 full time positions within the ACP Digital Team have been redefined to create 24 new digital roles at ninemsn and 10 new digital roles within ACP Magazines. Wherever possible, existing staff within ACP will fill the new roles required under the change in operations.

"The new arrangements between ACP Magazines and ninemsn will provide a clear path ahead to further develop the digital side of our business," Ian Law, CEO of PBL Media Group, said.

"The changes announced today will ensure close alignment between our print brands and our online brands."

ninemsn CEO Joe Pollard said: "ninemsn and ACP Magazines already enjoy a great business partnership which has seen the suite of online ACP Magazine brands grow from an audience and revenue perspective over the last two years.

"Just this week, the Australian Women’s Weekly site re-launched featuring innovative new content and improved functionality. We also launched Grazia’s interactive, online collection of all 700-plus Rosemount Australian Fashion Week images, developed using the latest Microsoft Silverlight technology.

“The new digital business arrangement will result in the development of even more innovative projects and creative content as well as deeper integration between our organisations."