View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 1, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Seventeen has ‘global potential’

By Press Gazette

US teen magazine Seventeen could launch in the UK if new owner the Hearst Corporation decides to boost its presence overseas.

Hearst announced the purchase of Seventeen from Primedia last week.

Launched in 1944, Seventeen claims to be the largest monthly beauty/fashion magazine in the US for females aged between 12 and 24. According to Hearst, it reaches one in two US teenagers.

The title was originally put on the market for $200m (£125m) but the price fell to $180m after several bidders, including Condé Nast, pulled out. The acquisition is expected to boost Hearst’s presence in the US teen market following the success of its Cosmopolitan spin-off CosmoGIRL!.

Given the launch of UK editions of Esquire and, more recently, CosmoGIRL!, which has eight editions worldwide, there is a possibility that the National Magazine Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, may also consider bringing it to the UK.

Terry Mansfield, a director of the Hearst Corporation, said it was possible but stressed that the US was four years ahead of the UK in terms of magazine publishing. He told Press Gazette: “It is a possibility, but our immediate priority is developing the newly launched CosmoGIRL!.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“We have acquired Grüner + Jahr and Aim Publications and Hearst has done tremendous work in developing the Oprah magazine.”

Mansfield added: “We are global players and at the end of the day the teen market in the UK is very exciting. I am not saying we are going to bring it to the UK, but as with all of our acquisitions, Hearst will be looking at the international potential.” The acquisition is expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2003. The purchase also includes 14 international editions, a number of Seventeen spin-off publications and teen website seventeen.com.

Despite speculation that there will be too much overlap between CosmoGIRL! and Seventeen, Hearst says the titles will operate independently with separate editors and publishers.

By Ruth Addicott

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network