OLD Media Moves

Kelly: Portfolio launch renews clash between Time and Conde Nast

April 15, 2007

Posted by Chris Roush

The New York Post’s Keith Kelly writes in Sunday’s paper that the launch of new biz glossy Conde Nast Portfolio is really about the battle between two magazine industry titans: Time Inc. and Conde Nast.

Conde Nast PortfolioKelly wrote, “For years, the publishing titans rarely clashed: Condé Nast’s fashion titles such as Vogue had the women, and Time Inc., with Fortune, Sports Illustrated and Time, had the men.

“The bad blood, some say, began in 1994 when Time invaded the beauty/fashion world with the launch of InStyle – sucking some advertising dollars from the category.

“Then, Vogue, four years ago, launched Teen Vogue into a category where Teen People was once hot. Time Inc. answered when it made the disastrous move to turn Life into a newspaper supplement – invading the very profitable turf of Newhouse-owned Parade. Life will publish its last issue next Sunday after burning through an estimated $50 million to $75 million.

“The bad blood extends beyond the $5.2 billion in Time Inc. revenue and the $2 billion in revenue that Condé Nast, a privately held concern, is believed to ring up. In 1997, Fortune leveled a vicious hit on then-Condé Nast CEO Steve Florio. Condé Nast’s GQ then ran an article critical of Time’s John Huey.”

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