IPC and Emap plan new sporting titles

IPC Specialist Group and Emap Metro are both understood to be entering the sport and football magazine sector.

IPC is within weeks of announcing a football monthly from the specialist stable that produces teen football titles Shoot and 90 Minutes. The title will be a glossy monthly targeting men aged 18 to 35 in the mould of Haymarket Consumer Magazines’ Four Four Two.

IPC Football & Music Group publishing director Andy McDuff refused to comment: “We’re ex-amining the possibility of launching a number of titles,” he says.

At the same time Emap Metro is planning to use its FHM sport supplement for the May issue, Total Sport, as a blueprint for a potential launch next year.

Emap Metro acting managing director Barry McIlheney says: “If we’re happy with the ad response and how it researches we will consider it as a launch next year.”

Emap plans to use the 132-page supplement, edited by Q editor Danny Kelly, to research with groups of men and to use in presentations with agencies.

The moves follow the launch of two men’s health and sports magazines in February and the launch of Dennis Publishing’s Maxim Magazine this week.