C4 strikes spin-off magazine deals

Channel 4 has stepped up its brand extension by signing two deals to publish magazines linked to its coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show and test match cricket.

It has asked Cabal Communications to produce a 164-page magazine, called Celebrating Chelsea, for this month’s show, with a cover price of 3.95. Channel 4 has also signed a deal with Zone to produce Test Match Cricket: The Official Guide, which will be published in June with a cover price of 3.

While these are one-off titles, Channel 4 has said it is keen to develop its relationship with Cabal, and turn other programme properties into magazines, which could become regular publications.

The publishing deals come on the back of Channel 4’s expansion of its commercial development department in September. At the time, Channel 4 said it was looking for deals “encompassing video, books, magazines and all other areas of product development”.

Ruth Roscola, Channel 4 commercial development manager, comments: “These are important initiatives.We are delighted to be taking our first steps into magazine publishing.”