Women's Magazines Partner On Content With Retail Network

11/01/2005

1 Nov 2005 (SAN FRANCISCO) -­ Meredith Corporation, one of the largest publishers of womenıs magazines in the United States, has entered the digital-signage sector through a content partnership with SignStorey, operator of a retail media network at more than 1200 supermarket stores nationwide.

Meredith will provide SignStorey with video, photography and editorial content from its range of more than 25 top-selling magazines, which include titles such as Better Homes and Gardens, More, Ladiesı Home Journal, and Family Circle.

Mike Lovell, Meredithıs director of corporate development, told aka.tv that the publisherıs decision to enter the digital-signage sector was part of a continuing policy of harnessing new distribution platforms to extend its brands.

According to Lovell, the company has already compiled a ³digital asset library² for content associated with some of its titles, from which it will be able to draw digitized video content for programming on the SignStorey in-store network.

Lovell said he saw the adoption of digital-signage networks as a ³chicken-and-egg situation², with the entry of major content providers both dependent on and contributing to the popularity of the medium.

He explained that production of the content for the SignStorey network would be a collaboration between the two companies, and that Meredithıs editors would be closely involved in the process.

Meredithıs businesses range from magazine and book publishing and television broadcasting to integrated marketing and interactive media. It is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Connecticut-based SignStorey claims to reach 10.2m consumers each week through its in-store network at Albertsonıs and other supermarket chains in 37 U.S. states. Chief executive Virginia Cargill, calling Meredith ³one of the most trusted names in media², said: ³SignStorey is uniquely positioned in the store to partner with traditional media companies like Meredith to extend their reach and continue to build their relationships with mass audiences in a new way, directly in the buying environment.²