Blue Ant Media, a portfolio company of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (TSX: FFH, FFH.U) and Torstar Corporation (TSX: TS.B), has acquired Australian Geographic magazine and its associated assets from Bauer Media. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Australian Geographic is a bi-monthly quality magazine that celebrates the very best of Australia’s nature, culture, people and places. Australian Geographic will operate out of Northern Pictures’ office in Sydney, Australia.
Toronto based Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator.
Blue Ant Media’s investors also include Relay Ventures, Kensington Capital Partners, and Difference Capital Financial Inc. (TSX-V: DCF)
photo credit: Australian Geographic
News Release
Blue Ant Media Acquires Australian Geographic magazine
Blue Ant Media has acquired Australian Geographic magazine (March 2018 issue pictured) and its associated assets
(Toronto, Canada – Monday, March 5, 2018) – Blue Ant Media, an international content producer, distributor and channel operator, announced today that it has acquired Australian Geographic magazine, and its associated assets, from Bauer Media. Australian Geographic will operate out of Northern Pictures’ office in Sydney, Australia.
Australian Geographic is a bi-monthly quality magazine that celebrates the very best of Australia’s nature, culture, people and places. It is renowned for its photography, maps and stories that cover Australian life, natural history, adventure, science, culture, innovation and travel. With more than 40,000 subscribers, significant newsstand sales and a readership of over 540,000, it is one of Australia’s top ten paid magazines.
“Australian Geographic is the most iconic Australian wildlife and nature publication, reaching a highly engaged audience of natural history fans through its multi platform content,” said Michael MacMillan, CEO, Blue Ant Media. “The purchase of Australian Geographic reinforces our footprint in the Australian market while providing an impactful vehicle for showcasing the work of our natural history documentaries and series being produced all over the world.”
Paul Dykzeul, CEO, Bauer Media commented: “The sale of Australian Geographic is consistent with our strategy of focussing resources and investment on our core consumer and customer segments. I’m delighted that the magazine and its staff are going to a home that is so passionate about documenting Australian landscapes, wildlife and adventure. I thank all staff who have worked on Australian Geographic and wish them and the new owners every success.”
Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator. From our production houses around the world, we create content for multiple genres including factual, factual entertainment, short-form digital series and kids programming. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a catalogue of 3,200+ hours of content, including the largest 4K natural history offering on the market. Blue Ant Media’s international channel business offers a portfolio of media brands such as Love Nature (International), ZooMoo Networks (International), Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada), Blue Ant Entertainment (International), Blue Ant Extreme (International) and HGTV (New Zealand). Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Los Angeles, Singapore, Auckland, Dunedin, London, Washington, Sydney, Beijing and Taipei. Blueantmedia.com
Bauer Media publishes 60-plus magazines in Australia, selling more than 60 million copies each year. They include some of the longest-running and most successful mastheads, such as the country’s biggest-selling monthly magazine, The Australian Women’s Weekly, Australia’s number-one weekly magazine, Woman’s Day, NW, TV Week, Cosmopolitan, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Australian House & Garden and Wheels. Integral to the company’s success are vibrant, information-packed websites, mobile apps and social media platforms. For more information visit http://bauer-media.com.au