NO SLOWDOWN IN NEW LAUNCHES

There was no recognisable decrease in the number of new magazines being launched in Thailand during the first four months of 2011. What was noticeable, however, was the proportion of new titles appearing from the larger and more established publishers. Previously, the "new launches" sector of the market was almost exclusively dominated by smaller and one-off publishers.

Citing several examples, Amarin debuted Lemonade in early March. Lemonade is a home grown title that is aimed at young women. Inspire Entertainment has also been particularly active, launching two licensed local language magazines in the shape of Champions (from the UK) and Popteen Thailand (from Japan).

My own unscientific observations show that around 20 new titles have hit the news stands since the start of the year. What does this say about the prospects for print? My view is that it underlines the confidence that many publishers have in the future of print in the kingdom.