Mike Holmes fronting companion magazine to launch this fall

Mike Holmes, the muscular star of the eponymous TV fixit show Holmes on Homes, is launching a companion bi-monthly magazine called Holmes. According to a story in Media in Canada, the Dauphin Media Group (Canadian Architecture & Design magazine) and The Holmes Group are launching the title in November. It will include tips from building professionals, construction projects, products and techniques, the latest technology and appliances and info about insurance, permits, contracts and inspections.

Moen Canada, a maker of plumbing products, has committed to the outside back cover for the launch issue in November and subsequent issues in 2010. "Right now I don't think there's a lot of magazines similar to it," says Charlie Ferguson, Dauphin Media Group VP. "The editorial will be written in Mike's voice and he will be signing off on all content."

The initial print run will be 75,000 copies, and first issues are expected to be approximately 120-plus pages. It will be available by subscription (one year $23.50) and on newsstands across Canada. The Holmes Group is promoting internally via their website that has a data base of more than 50,000, the story said.

Holmes is debuting a second TV series called Holmes Inspection this fall.