Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AFX) - Meredith Corp. said Tuesday it has joined with Hong Kong-based SEEC Media Group Limited to publish a Chinese-language version of Better Homes & Gardens magazine.
The edition is now available in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, and will offer more than 300 pages of content, including a bonus feature "100 Years of Home Revolution" to introduce the magazine's history and tradition.
The cover of the premiere edition, with its bright green, yellow and pink color scheme, depicts a blond-haired child lounging on a sun porch. Cover articles in both English and Chinese cover the topics, "What Children Need" and "When Life Meets Work."
"Better Homes and Gardens China is a perfect marriage of American flavor and local Chinese taste," said William T. Kerr, Meredith's chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement.
Articles are targeted at modern Chinese middle-class families and advertisers will be able to reach a rapidly expanding market, said John Zieser, Vice President of Corporate Development for Meredith.
Better Homes and Gardens has nearly 40 million monthly readers in the United States.
The Chinese magazine will initially be sold on newsstands, said Meredith spokesman Art Slusark.
SEEC Media is a leading print media advertising company in China, which publishes Caijing, a leading financial magazine, in addition to New Real Estate Magazine and Securities Market Weekly.
The company, which is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has expanded into nonfinancial publications and is seeking partnerships with non-Chinese magazine brands.
"There is a tremendous demand for home and family related information in China," said Boming Wang, SEEC Media chairman. "It is driven by robust economic growth and accumulation of wealth. We are pleased to join forces with Meredith to introduce the leading home and family title, Better Homes and Gardens, to China."
Des Moines-based Meredith publishes 25 subscription magazines including Better Homes and Gardens and Ladies' Home Journal and about 200 special interest publications. Its broadcast division owns 14 television stations.
Meredith shares fell 61 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $48.94 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares have traded in a 52-week range of $46.50 to $56.83. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
Copyright 2006 AFX News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
