Condé Nast and Hearst in talks about shared services

Two of the biggest players in the U.S. and international magazine industry -- Condé Nast and Hearst -- are apparently in talks to share services, at least in the U.S. This would see Hearst Magazine Publishing Services (HMPS) offering print and digital services to Condé Nast and third party publishers.

HMPS is an extension of the dominant fulfillment and data company CDS Global which operates as a separate entity from Hearst (and which advertises on this blog). Potential clients could have access to Hearst's digital asset management system as well as consumer marketing, consultation around content creation and advertising sales, procurement, production, Web site, app and e-edition development, financial management or subscription and fulfillment management.

According to a story in WWD, Hearst Magazines president David Carey has been in talks with incoming Condé Nast chief executive officer Bob Sauerberg about becoming a client. 

CDS already manages certain end-to-end outsourcing for 450 print and digital publishers, including such functions as order management, payment and customer service. Current clients include magazines from big publishers like Condé Nast and Rodale to smaller ones like August Home Publishing and Garden & Gun LLC.