Sanoma sells three Dutch titles to Pijper Media
Sanoma is to sell three of its Dutch titles – Nieuwe Revu, Panorama and Playboy, to Netherlands media owner Pijper Media. Pijper Media will acquire these titles, along with 23 staff, and the transaction is “subject to a positive advice of unions and the Works Council and the consent of the licensor involved”.
The sale is part of a strategic redesign process that Sanoma announced in October 2013, which has involved 32 brands and has seen a significant restructuring of its Dutch magazine portfolio. Sanoma says the aim is to grow 17 magazine brands and their extensions and specials, with a focus on digital media, ecommerce, events and TV.
Of the 32 Dutch brands placed under strategic review, Sanoma has already announced the sale of 19 titles to New Skool Media. One title (Helden) has been sold separately. Three titles have been merged into existing brands, that will remain in Sanoma’s Dutch magazine portfolio. Two titles (Nickelodeon and Tuinieren) will remain with Sanoma but in a different form (as a line extension and online only respectively). The remaining four titles will remain under strategic review. Sanoma says the process will be completed by the end of the year.
