Bauer Consumer Media to shut down Arena

Publishers Bauer Consumer Media, formerly Emap Consumer Media, yesterday said it was suspending its title Arena, the  British monthly men's magazine.

The family-owned publisher said the publication will cease to exist after its April issue, which is due to go on sale on 12 March and it would  it will try to redeploy the staff within the Bauer group.

The Bauer Publishing Group has grown from its humble beginnings as a printing house into a worldwide publishing empire comprising 282 magazines in 15 countries with 6,600 employees worldwide and annual turnover of 1.79 billion Euro.

Bauer Media reaches over nineteen million readers in the UK across multiple media channels. It owns over 80 influential media brands spanning a wide range of interests, including What Bike, TV Guide, Practcal Photography, Fleet News, GRAZIA, Closer, MCN, FHM, Parker's, MATCH, Magic 105.4, Kiss 100, Kerrang!, all-new Q Radio and the Big City Network, a  group of 20 local radio stations.

Arena was created in 1986 by Nick Logan, who had started The Face in 1980, to focus on trends in fashion and entertainment. British graphic designer Neville Brody designed Arena's launch appearance.

Bauer said it has "taken the decision to suspend" the title, following a significant drop in Arena's circulation in recent years as readers have moved away from the  magazine sector.

The magazine featured articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, toys, and books. It was pitched at a similarly upscale audience to GQ, attempting to offer a more adult read than lad mags like Maxim and FHM, and gearing itself specifically towards the "black collar worker".

Arena employs 12 staff across editorial and advertising, who have now entered into a four week period of consultation, according to the group, which also publishes FHM, who may not be laid off.

Bauer said Arena's suspension will not affect Homme Plus, Arena's fashion-led brand spin-off, published twice a year.

According to ABC figures for the period July to December 2008, Arena's circulation was 29,374, up 16.4 per cent year on year, but down 4.9 per cent on the previous six months.