Troubled Later and Sky magazines shut down

IPC Ignite!’s men’s magazine, Later, and EMAP Elan’s youth title, Sky, have ceased publication.

The magazines’ closures follow reports of a slump in advertising and heavy circulation losses at the titles.

Sky, launched in 1987, was revamped last year in an attempt to revive its declining circulation.

The magazine sported a new look from last October, in order to appeal to readers of both sexes aged in their early twenties.

Latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (June to Dec 2000) reported that Sky’s circulation was down 35.2 per cent year-on-year, to 65,080.

Later was down 22.4 per cent year-on-year, to a total circulation of 70,267, in the same period.

The last issue of Later is currently on sale, cover dated July.

The managing director of IPC Ignite!, Mike Soutar, says: “Later was launched to push the boundaries of the men’s market by serving the needs of readers over 30.

“However, the past two years have shown us that this sector isn’t large enough to support a commercially viable mainstream title.”

IPC is looking at new placements for all staff affected.

The chief executive of EMAP Elan network, Barry McIlheney, says: “It is always disappointing when a magazine closes but in this case we have exhausted all options.”

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