Australia: ACCC has a problem with Bauer’s Pacific Magazines buy

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated Bauer’s Woman’s Day competes closely with New Idea, owned by Pacific Magazines, and Bauer’s Take 5 magazine competes strongly with Pacific Magazines’ That’s Life.

“Pacific Magazines and Bauer are the only magazine publishers in certain categories, and their titles appear to compete head-to-head on content and cover price,” ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

“We are acutely aware of the dramatic decline in magazine revenue, both in terms of lost advertising and reduced sales. The trends in the media sector were considered closely in our Digital Platform Inquiry final report published in July. Many magazines titles have closed over recent years, and more titles will close irrespective of this deal.

“However, competition within markets has an important role to play to protect consumers, even in declining markets. The key Bauer and Pacific Magazine titles remain profitable, and in some cases average more than one million readers per issue.”

Full Content: Financial Review

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