Rodale Launches <I>Women's Health</I> in China, Philippines; <I>Prevention</I> Australia

In Rodale's latest bid for global domination brand extension, the company announced the launch of Women's Health China and Women's Health Philippines, which each made their debut with April issues. The additions bring Women's Health's global tally to 10, though the growing women's title still has a long way to go before it catches up with the 40-plus international editions of Men's Health. Rodale also announced the launch of Prevention Australia, slated for an October 2009 debut. In somewhat of a partnership square dance, each new magazine version is paired with a different publishing company : WH Philippines goes with Summit Media (current partner for Men's Health Philippines), while WH China pairs up with sports publisher Titan Media, and Prevention signs up with Pacific Magazines. Both releases, after the jump: RODALE LAUNCHES WOMEN'S HEALTH CHINA AND WOMEN'S HEALTH PHILIPPINES --Two Key Asian Markets Expand Women's Health's Footprint To Ten Editions Worldwide-- New York, NY, April 22, 2009 - Rodale Inc. today announced the launch of Women's Health China and Women's Health Philippines. Under a licensing agreement with Titan Media, China's leading sports publisher, Women's Health China has launched with the April issue. Women's Health Philippines has also launched with the April issue under a licensing agreement with Summit Media, the leading magazine publisher in the country and publisher of Men's Health Philippines. Today's announcement brings the number of global Women's Health editions to ten. "As the population of health-minded women continues to grow in Asia, we feel there is no better time to launch Women's Health in these two markets," said Michelle Meyercord, SVP, Rodale International. "China and the Philippines stand out in Asia as having significant growth potential for this brand, and our research has shown that there is a real hunger for smart, credible health content. We are confident that our service journalism approach will resonate well in these markets, and we are thrilled to expand the Women's Health footprint with our partners at Titan Media and Summit Media." Titan Media (http://www.titan24.com/) is home to Titan Sports, the highest circulation sports newspaper in China, as well as well-known sporting magazines such as Soccer Weekly, Golf Digest, All Sports, and Yoga. Said Mr. Qu Youyuan, President, Titan Media Group: "With Rodale's strong health magazine brands, relevant content, and strong research history, we feel this is the right time for Women's Health China. With the 2008 Olympics having been a big success, we are confident that consumers are more interested in sport and are finding ways to live a healthier, better lifestyle. Rodale's content has been successful in countries around the world, and we feel it will be equally successful in China." Under Summit Media (http://www.summitmedia.com.ph/), Men's Health Philippines has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. In 2008, Men's Health Philippines reported a 22% growth in advertising pages and a 34% growth in advertising revenues compared to the previous year. Said Aurora Mangubat-Suarez, Publisher, Summit Media, "Health and fitness are becoming the new status symbols as more Filipinas are embracing a more health-conscious lifestyle and are looking for a trusted source of information. As a result, advertisers are also embracing this magazine, and we have exceeded launch expectations. Our partnership with Rodale has been invaluable, and we look forward to capitalizing on our country's growing health awareness and building on our successes through the launch of Women's Health Philippines." Since launching in the U.S. in 2005, Women's Health has experienced rapid growth and has significantly contributed to Rodale International's expansion in recent years. The brand launched five global editions in 2008 alone and has a presence in key markets worldwide including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Latin America, New Zealand, and Turkey. RODALE INC ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF PREVENTION AUSTRALIA New York, NY, April 22, 2009 - Rodale Inc. announced today that it has signed an agreement with Pacific Magazines to launch Prevention Australia. Pacific Magazines, the publishing arm of Australia's largest television network, the Seven Network, is also home to Men's Health Australia and Women's Health Australia. The launch of Prevention Australia extends the brand's global connection with educated, 40+ women committed to living a healthy lifestyle, and brings the total number of international editions of the brand to seventeen. Prevention Australia will launch with the October 2009 issue. "We are very excited to extend our partnership with Pacific Magazines through the launch of Prevention Australia," said Michelle Meyercord, SVP, Rodale International. "Australia is a very important market for Rodale, and we look forward to delivering Prevention's unmatched editorial to a new segment of Australia's health-minded consumers." Prevention is the largest healthy lifestyle magazine brand in the world and is published in markets throughout Latin America as well as in Mexico, Greece, India, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Indonesia. Prevention has established itself as an industry leader and authoritative voice by engaging readers as a trusted source for health content. It's Web site, www.prevention.com, is the top online health magazine destination in the United States. The launch of Prevention Australia marks another achievement in this highly successful partnership between Pacific Magazines and Rodale. Under Pacific Magazines, Men's Health Australia recently marked its 12th consecutive circulation increase and its highest audit figure ever, according to its December 2008 Audit Bureau of Circulation statement. Men's Health Australia has more than doubled its circulation over the past 10 years and the magazine now occupies 43% market share for gross copies sold in the men's lifestyle market. In 2008, Women's Health Australia received two Magazine of the Year Awards from the Magazine Publishers of Australia in the categories of "Launch of the Year" and "Consumer Marketing Campaign of the Year" for the "It's Good to Be You"â„¢ campaign. Nick Chan, CEO, Pacific Magazines, said, "Prevention builds on the market confidence and momentum of our most recent launch, Women's Health, with a brand that boasts a compelling reader proposition and a uniquely defined target market. With Prevention, we will broaden our reach into the healthy lifestyle category and deepen our commitment to offering advertising clients the most targeted marketing solutions."

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Rodale Launches Women's Health in China, Philippines; Prevention Australia

Blake Gernstetter

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