ACK-Media to publish Indian editions of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Kids magazines.
Mumbai (10 Oct. 2011): Today ACK-Media and National Geographic Society announced a partnership to publish Indian editions of National Geographic (NGM), National Geographic Traveler (NGT) and National Geographic Kids magazines. India's leading magazine distributor, India Book House, owned by ACK-Media, has been distributing the international edition of NGM and NGT in India for many years. All three magazines are monthly publications.
National Geographic Society's Indian edition of the magazines will provide Indian readers with greater access to original content in publications from an organization that has set the standard for excellence in reporting and photography for more than 100 years. Further localization of the content in all three magazines is expected, giving advertisers a platform to reach the discerning and affluent Indian audience. The first Indian edition of the magazines is expected to be on newsstands mid 2012. ACK-Media is aggressively pursuing advertisement and marketing partnerships prior to launch.
‘We are excited to bring a more localized version of our magazines to the Indian market through our partner ACK-Media. By offering National Geographic magazine alongside National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Kids, we hope to appeal to readers of all ages , interests and backgrounds and further expand the reach of the National Geographic brand in India,’ said Terry Adamson, executive vice president of National Geographic Society.
Samir Patil, CEO & founder of ACK-Media, elaborated on the publishing details: ‘We bring to the table the widest reach (10,000+ vendors), vast experience (60+ years) and a deep relationship with National Geographic brands through our long-standing distribution partnership. With Future Ventures as a majority shareholder in ACK-Media, we also bring unique strengths in the retail and merchandizing space. We have aggressive plans for e-commerce, dedicated retail presence, retail kiosks and other innovative points-of-presence in malls, book stores and modern retail.’
Manas Mohan, business head of National Geographic India, said, ‘We have a unique direct-to-customer strategy both in terms of physical mailers as well as e-commerce. Overall, we think we have the only full-service distribution model in India. We are also making significant investments in this area to address unique challenges, for example, customer preference for cash on delivery. Our target audience for NGM is everyone. Regardless of age or gender, NGM provides a personal space for everyone to connect with the world and the magic of civilization, in a unique way that only National Geographic achieves. Our target audience for National Geographic Kids is parents, teachers and kids (the magazine age range would be roughly 6 to 12). Our target audience for National Geographic Traveler is the growing number of middle- and upper-middle-class families of India who are aggressively exploring travel and leisure options both in India and abroad.’
The Indian edition of the magazines expands the international reach of the National Geographic Society in the Asian market. They will be produced to the exacting standards of the Society, in the same format and with the familiar yellow-bordered covers.
‘National Geographic's unique combination of award-winning photography and reporting appeals to curious minds everywhere, helping people to better understand our amazing and complicated world,’ said Declan Moore, executive vice president of the National Geographic Society and president of National Geographic Publishing. ‘With this partnership, we are excited to expand our footprint in India with locally published English editions and look forward to growing the business to the point where we will publish Indian editions in local languages.’
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to ‘increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,’ the Society's mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, currently published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 60 million people worldwide each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 370 million households in 34 languages in 168 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 15 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.