Brunico discontinues print edition of Playback magazine

[This post has been updated.] Playback magazine, a fortnightly trade publication for Canada’s production, broadcasting & interactive media industries, is discontinuing its print edition and switching to a wholly online operation; it had previously had a companion website and a daily e-letter to subscribers as well as the print magazine. According to the publication's media kit, circulation of the print magazine was approximately 9,000. A subscription costs $129.95 a year. A full page print ad was $4,395.

(The company is also discontinuing its publication 'Boards, which served the international and commercial production community.)

The publisher, Toronto-based Brunico Communications Ltd. is a privately held publisher and producer, involved in a number of niche markets, including film and video products and services and sponsored conferences. Among the publications in its mix are Strategy magazine (which also publishes the website Media in Canada).

Russell Goldstein, the president and CEO of Brunico, told The Wire Report that Playback has been moving toward online-only since 2007 when its website went to paid access.

[Update: Marketing magazine reports that the announcements about the changes came shortly after the departure of executive vice-president Laas Turnbull. He was at one time the editor of shift magazine and later was editor of the Globe and Mail's Report on Business magazine before moving over to the business side at Brunico in July 2006.

Masthead reports that a total of 18 jobs were lost in Brunico.]