IPC steals march on Cabal launch

Cabal’s Crime Weekly has been suspended indefinitely and may be axed, following the launch of IPC’s spoiler title Chat Crime and Passion last month (MW February 11).

A spokeswoman for Cabal says the title’s editor, Keith Wilson, and his editorial team are still in place but adds: “There is a possibility that we might not do it at all.” The magazine was due to launch on January 29, but a week before launch it was announced there would be a delay of four to eight weeks. Some sources believe Cabal will allow IPC to “test the market” before taking a final decision.

Cabal was set up by ex-IPC editor-in-chief Sally O’Sullivan in July last year with a plan to launch 12 titles in its first year. The company is short of its target for the first six months and publishes four titles: Front, The Real Homes Magazine, Maximum Mountain Bike and Pro Cycling.

The launch of Chat Crime and Passion was seen as a pre-emptive strike by IPC. It is hitting back after Cabal poached its staff and launched lad’s magazine Front and home interest title The Real Homes Magazine to rival IPC’s Loaded and Ideal Home.

Cabal has just bought Pantile Publications’ Good Health mag-azine, which it will relaunch as a grown-up version of Zest and Marie Claire Health & Beauty this month.

Cabal has said Front averaged sales of 185,000 per month, while The Real Homes Magazine averaged 145,000. Both are slightly below target.