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StopPress creates huge, unstoppable, uncaring media empire

From left: Julian Andrews, Martin Bell, John Baker, Vincent Heeringa

Actually, that headline is only partially true: HB Media, creators of StopPress, NZ Marketing, Idealog and Good, has joined forces with Tangible Media, which publishes a range of magazines including Dish, NZ Retail and NZ Rugby World. And the new, award-winning media beast is set to become New Zealand’s largest independent publishing company.

The new company, which will be known as Tangible Media, will be part of the Image Centre Group and will publish 13 of its own magazines, 10 customer titles and nine websites. It will also run several events and manage AUT Media, the publishing arm of AUT University, a contract that was previously owned by HB Media.

Mike Hutcheson, executive director of Image Centre, says: “We have been associated with the HB team since inception and are delighted that the association is now formalised into such a strong and innovative new structure. The combined talent pool of the merged company will make it a formidable force in the publishing world.”

Vincent Heeringa and Martin Bell, the founders, owners and draconian overlords of HB Media are very happy wee chappies and say the merger is the realisation of a five-year dream.

“When we launched HB in March 2005 our ambition was to create a significant, Kiwi-owned, multi-channel media company. Tangible Media has the same vision. And with a great stable of products, highly talented staff and experienced leadership, we’re confident that the merger go smoothly and the company will be an enormous success,” says Bell.

The merger will occur on 1 July and Hutcheson says the terms of the deal will remain confidential.

“But we can reveal that Vincent and Martin will become significant shareholders in the new Tangible, reflecting their success in building HB Media into such a solid company with award-winning products and a long list of blue chip clients. The business will be managed by a senior team of experienced publishers including Martin Bell, John Baker, Julian Andrews and Vincent Heeringa.”

John Baker, publisher at Tangible, says the addition of HB will create a dream team of publishing talent. “We have been big fans of HB for many years and have often discussed the potential to collaborate. Like us, HB has a fundamental commitment to delivering world-class editorial experiences to engage with their audiences, be it in print or online. We have no doubt we will be able to build a brilliant business together.”

One of the key motivations for Tangible merging with HB is to tap into the online success of products such as StopPress.co.nz and Celsias.co.nz.

“The Tangible titles have enormous online potential and with the addition of HB Media’s online team, we expect very soon to do as much business online as we do in print,” says Bell.

Herewith, a list of products in the Tangible stable:

Magazines

  • NZ Rugby World
  • NZ Fishing World
  • Dish
  • Classic Driver
  • NZ Today
  • Real Groove
  • Groove Guide
  • Idealog
  • Good
  • NZ Marketing
  • Wares (JV with Marketplace Media)
  • NZ Hardware Journal (JV with Marketplace Media)
  • Outdoor Power Equipment (JV with Marketplace Media)

Customer magazines

  • Habitat (Resene)
  • NZ Retail (NZ Retailers Association)
  • Co. (Telecom staff magazine)
  • PQ (NZ Planning Institute)
  • To: (Tourism Industry Association NZ)
  • Education Aotearoa (NZ Education Institute)
  • IRL Solutions (Industrial Research)
  • Succeed (ASB, Hayes Knight)
  • Beyond the Numbers (Hayes Knight)
  • IBM Insight (IBM)

Websites

Events:

  • TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards
  • Good NZ Volunteer of the Year Awards
  • Wares Awards
  • NZ Hardware Awards

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