Zoomer magazine and media empire grows with takeover of Vision TV

The empire of Moses Znaimer, publisher of Zoomer Magazine and proprietor of Zoomer Media, just got bigger with the announced aquisition of Vision TV, its digital specialty channel ONE: Mind & Spirit and two JoyTV specialty channels in Winnipeg.

Zoomer has agreed to pay $25 million for the television enterprise, including all the shares of Christian Channel Inc. and of Vision TV Digital Inc. The deal involves $14 million in cash and a 10-year, $11 million promissory note. The deal is being financed by the issuance of 176 million new shares of Zoomer at a price of 10 cents a share; Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has agreed to subscribe to the issue, which represents 28% of the company.

The takeover, expected to close in the spring of 2010, is still subject to CRTC approval.

"VisionTV has been broadcasting for 20 years and we believe that this network as well as the Joytv stations and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel will add tremendous value to ZoomerMedia" said Moses Znaimer in a release.

"These acquisitions will enrich Zoomer's media assets to include radio and television broadcasting, as well as video production. In addition to being attractive businesses in their own right, we expect their complementary nature to Zoomer's magazine and on-line/web holdings will further facilitate the expansion of the Zoomer concept, and will assist CARP significantly in expanding its membership base. It also puts me back into TV, where I have a little experience, and a few ideas that should grow shareholder value."

Said Vision TV President and CEO Bill Roberts: "This value transaction is in the best interests of our viewers, our stakeholders and the VisionTV Charity - and at a time of consolidation in the media industry, it represents a bold and affirming commitment to diversity and independent Canadian broadcasting. Our respective brands share complementary audience demographics and a common commitment to high-quality, award-winning Canadian content, and we welcome the opportunity to pursue exciting new opportunities together. We are also pleased that this business arrangement will re-energize the VisionTV Charity, providing the ample resources it needs to re-invent itself for the 21st century.

Zoomer publishes Zoomer Magazine, which is published nine times a year, with paid subscriptions of 180,000 and an estimated 15,000 copies sold on newsstands. It also provides marketing and membership services to CARP, the association for the 45-plus in Canada, with about 350,000 members and publishes websites and electronic newsletters under the brand 50plus.com.

VisionTV launched in September 1988 and is available to over 9 million cable and satellite subscribers aross Canada. It is licensed as Canada's only (possibly the world's only) multi-faith specialty television service. It has 1.6 million viewers each week. The VisionTV viewer demographic trends towards the 45 and older age group. Its associated digital channel One: Mind & Spirit, is 53% owned by Canwest Global, Radio-Nord and Renewal Partners Company, but Vision TV is acknowledged as the managing partner.

Related posts:

• Znaimer and company sinks $1 million into building
• Zoomer magazine reports $402k loss on $1.7 million in revenue
• First, Zoomer magazine; now a show for the Zoomer consumer
• For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance
• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor

Zoomer magazine reports $402k loss on $1.7 million in revenue

ZoomerMedia Limited has announced that for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the Company had revenue (including its magazine) of $2,539,172 and expenses of $3,214,022 with a net loss after tax of $674,850. These results are coincident with the launch of Zoomer magazine; the company says they are in line with the company's 2009 business plan.

Data released for the publishing side indicate the loss for the quarter on the magazine was approximately $402,000, including revenue for the associated website. Essentially, it means that the startup is responsible for about 2/3 of the quarterly loss.

Before the company was taken over by entrepreneur Moses Znaimer, and before the magazine was launched, the comparable quarter ended September 30, 2007 showed revenue of $1,296,090 and expenses of $1,224,381 with a net income after tax of $71,709.

According to a release by the company, magazine advertising revenue for the quarter was $1,067,698 versus $868,237 for the comparable quarter last year. This increase of $199,461 (23.0%) is a result of increased advertising pages sold in the re-launched version of Zoomer magazine. Subscription revenue was $300,026 versus $395,124 for the comparable quarter last year. "This decline of $98,098 (24.1%) is attributable to the decline in our subscriber base," the company said, essentially acknowledging that some of the previous subscribers to CARP magazine, from which Zoomer was evolved, have fallen away. Revenue from the revitalized website was $354,882; the company said that page views had increased 60% in the past year.

• Circulation expenses were $140,494 versus $64,880 for the comparable quarter last year, an increase of $75,614 (116.5%) due to significant circulation expenses incurred in newsstand and other promotion of the relaunch of Zoomer magazine while no such expenditure was incurred in the comparable quarter last year.
• Editorial expenses $594,970 versus $216,497 for the comparable quarter last year, an increase of $378,473 (174.8%) due to additional personnel hires for the re-launch of the magazine as well as increased expenditures for freelance writers and photographers in the premiere issue of the re-launched magazine.
• Production expenses were $813,182 versus $540,504 for the comparable quarter last year, an increase of $272,678 (50.4%) as a result of printing and distributing a significantly larger re-launch issue of Zoomer magazine including 50,000 newsstand copies.
• Sales expenses were $576,404 versus $144,252 for the comparable quarter last year, an increase of $432,152 (299.6%). As at September 30, 2008, the Company had cash and short term deposits on hand of $1,107,851 (June 30, 2008 - $2,233,536) and working capital (excluding the current portion of deferred revenue) of $2,675,174 (June 30, 2008 - $2,887,318).

Zoomer was launched this fall and says it has a paid circulation of approximately 190,000 and places a further 50,000 copies on newsstands; as a result total paid circulation is probably in the area of 225,000. Aside from Zoomer, the company's key property is the website 50plus.com . It also manages CARP, Canada's association for the 45+, with 350,000 members.

Related posts:

• First, Zoomer magazine; now a show for the Zoomer consumer
• For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance
• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor

Znaimer sells some assets to ZoomerMedia and in the process tightens control

Media entrepreneur Moses Znaimer has acquired a tighter grip on control of ZoomerMediaLimited, of which he is President and CEO by selling it several media and real estate assets he controls, in return for shares in the company and $4 million in cash. 

Znaimer and his holding firm Olympus Management Limited thereby have acquired 66% of the common shares and 66% of the preferred shares of ZoomerMedia which, among other things, published Zoomer magazine. The purchase of the Znaimer assets was financed by a recent $17.6 million private placement in Zoomer by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.  

The acquisition price for the MZ Assets will be paid through the issuance to Moses Znaimer and Olympus Management Limited ("OML"), a company controlled by Moses Znaimer, of 4,094,970 common shares of Zoomer and 255,905,030 non-voting Series 2 Class A Preference Shares (the "Series 2 Shares"), all issued at a price of $0.10 per share and $4 million in cash. At the time of closing, OML intends to invest a further $2 million in Zoomer through the exercise of warrants for cash to acquire a further 20 million common shares of Zoomer at a price of $0.10 per share. Zoomer will also assume mortgage liabilities with respect to the Property in the principal amount of approximately $10.2 million.

Essentially,the shares were acquired by the sale to ZoomerMedia of various assets including 

• radio holdings (CFMZ-FM, the New Classical 96.3 FM and 103.1 FM and CFZM, Zoomer Radio AM740);
• a television production and distribution business MZTV Production and Distribution Inc.;
• Zoomer Management Limited, which provides management services to a variety of companies, many of which are Znaimer's directly or indirectly;
• the "Idea City" annual conference;
• an office building in downtown Toronto

Zoomer magazine has a paid circulation of about 180,000 and is estimated to sell about 12,000 copies on newsstands. Zoomer also controls CARP, Canada's largest association for the 45 plus and its online properties, with approximately 350,000 members. One of its largest properties is 50plus.com, an interlinked series of websites that target the 45+ age group.  

ZoomerMedia  publishes Zoomer magazine, associated websites and other media properties, largely in radio. Recently, the company announced the acquisition of the assets of Vision TV.

Znaimer and company sinks $1 million into building Zoomer

Zoomer Media Limited's driving force and chief executive Moses Znaimer, has exercised an option to buy $1 million in shares of the company through the Toronto-based holding company he controls, Olympus Management Limited. According to a release published the last day of 2008, Znaimer made the purchase to fund the continued investment of operating capital in development of Zoomer magazine and its associated websites.

Previous to the purchase of the 10 million shares at 10 cents apiece, Olympus and Znaimer personally own a combined 80% of the company. Znaimer personally owned 63,000 common shares and has options on a further 500,000 as a management incentive.

Related posts:

• Zoomer magazine reports $402k loss on $1.7 million in revenue
  
• First, Zoomer magazine; now a show for the Zoomer consumer
• For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance
• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor

First, Zoomer magazine; now a show for the Zoomer consumer

On the heels of the launch of Zoomer magazine for the over-45s, Zoomer Media is launching a Toronto-based consumer lifestyle show that it hopes will be the template for going national next year. According to a story in Media in Canada, the Zoomer Show is said to be expecting 10,000 attendance over two days at the Direct Energy Centre at Toronto's Exhibition Place, Nov. 1-2. Admission will be free to CARP's 185,000 members (CARP is the organization for over-50s that Zoomer founder Moses Znaimer bought and has transformed, including changing the CARP membership magazine into a fashion and lifestyle title.)

Consistent with the perceived concerns of older people, the show is title-sponsored by Aspirin 81mg. Other sponsorship includes Pfizer, Pepcid Complete, McLennan Group and the Toronto Star. Among 150 exhibitors, LG, Cineplex, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Pepcid, Pfizer, McLennan Group, Sandals Resorts, Goodlife Fitness, Scotia McLeod, Canadian Diabetes Association, Polident, Breathe Right, Poly-Grip, Sensodyne and the Association of Interior Designers. Attenders will get advice on positive aging, financial planning, age-appropriate travel resorts, alternative living options, Zoomer-friendly innovations, professional caregiving or even a second career.

"Traditionally, marketers have lost interest in consumers after they turn 50," Leanne Wright, VP Communications, Zoomer, tells MiC. "ZoomerShow participants understand that if they want to grow their business in the next 20 years, they had better be targeting Zoomers."

"Everyone wants to live long, but nobody wants to get old - and everybody loves a show," [said] David Zersta, VP of conference and trade shows for Zoomer Media.

Zoomer launch lineup includes several Magaward-winning writers

The premier issue of Zoomer will be on the newsstands September 22 and editor-in-chief Suzanne Boyd (right) will have a lineup of contributors that are among the best known in Canadian magazines, according to a release:

• The cover will be shot by rock star photographer Bryan Adams; for now, the magazine is keeping the Canadian personality in front of Adams's lens a secret (tips gratefully received);
• Marni Jackson, late senior editor of The Walrus, a repeat National Magazine Award-winner, writing about the boomer generation and what it will leave behind;
• Elizabeth Renzetti, the UK correspondent for the Globe and Mail, writing a "powerful personal account of how intergenerational family ties have shaped her life";
• Sally Armstrong, Chatelaine columnist, former editor of Homemaker's, Amnesty International award-winner and member of the Order of Canada, reporting from Afghanistan;
• John Lorinc, well known for writing about urban affairs, particularly in Toronto Life, writing an articles Aging City: Can the urban spaces handle legions of retiring boomers?
• Libby Znaimer, author and host of The Zoomer Report on Classical 93FM with a column.

Consistent with the larger-than-life personality of its founder, Moses Znaimer, this launch issue will feature his behind-the-scenes account of receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Junos.

Related posts:

• For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance
  
• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor

Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"

Recently in the Globe and Mail wordmeister Warren Clements took issue in his March 8 column with Moses Znaimer's claim that he invented the term "zoomer", which he is using to rebrand CARP magazine.

Well, all good wishes to Znaimer, but he can't to have coined zoomer. In The Globe's pages alone, it has been around for years. Guy Dixon wrote in 2003 of a television commercial by advertising giant Young & Rubicam Inc. that "takes direct aim at the latest stage in baby boomer development - zoomer culture. These are boomers who feel half their age and want the world to know it." Two years earlier, The Sacramento Bee in California attributed the word "zoomers" to Del Webb, a developer of age-restricted communities for those 55 and over. In The Globe, Michael Kesterton's Social Studies quoted a brochure that defined a zoomer as "a no-limits baby boomer who sees retirement as the fast lane to a more energetic new life characterized by healthy living, a high level of physical activity, a quest for further learning, and who possesses technological and financial savvy." (The mangled syntax is sic.) In 2000, something called Promo magazine wrote that "aging Baby Boomers are turning into 'Zoomers,' yet another Boomer force to be reckoned with."

Znaimer replied on March 11:

I applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for a channel that I called Zoomer in 2002. Since it takes approximately a year to create a CRTC application, and since I was speaking about the Zoomer idea internally for more than a year before that, I place my first use of the term at about 10 years ago. I came upon it by combining "Boomer with Zip" or, to be frank, "Znaimer with Boomer."

No ego there, then.

For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance

The term "lunchtime interventions" is new to me. (Apparently this is somewhere between a facelift and letting nature take its course.) I learned the term in a wee video on the new Zoomer magazine website. The site gives some clues to what's going to be in Moses Znaimer's magazine, due out this fall, and what editor Suzanne Boyd is going to deliver. Here's some of what she says:

"Zoomer magazine is differentiated in several different ways. The first would be our dual audience, which is very exciting for an editor. We have 60% women and 40% men and that makes for a better mix. A lot of magazines suffer from formula fatigue and that's because they're so directed to male or female and this way we get to expand our content and be a little more adventurous."

The magazine will have the "CARP section", which will continue to indulge in the form of advocacy on behalf of the elderly and Canadians over 50 that the organization did before Znaimer bought it and put 10,000 volts through it.

"That really differentiates us because people have issues, real life, relevant issues that affect our audience so you get the meat on the bones of the fashion and the glamour and everything that's fun, but you get the real stuff that makes for a more hefty, compelling read."

[At this point, Ms Boyd undergoes a costume change]

"While another magazine might do psychological help, we'll focus on memory, ways of keeping your mind alive and give you tools and things to use. I think other magazines can talk about cosmetics and beauty, but we'll talk about anti-aging, cutting edge things coming from the cosmetics companies, the pharmaceutical companies,"cosmeceuticals", pharamaceuticals and dermatological or surgical advances, whether they are new techiques in facelifts or whether they just happen to be lunchtime intervention techniques you can do quite easily. So it's really focussed on where people are in their lives now, so it's being relevant. Relevance is our key word: relevant, relevant,relevant."

Related Posts:

• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor
  

Victoria Wisdom to head sales for new Zoomer

Victoria Wisdom, a former associate publisher and director of advertising for the late Saturday Night, has been named vice-president sales and marketing for MZ Media and will oversee the launch of the new over-50 magazine Zoomer, which is to debut in October. (While Moses Znaimer took over and is nominally revamping CARP magazine, the change is so dramatic it is actually a launch.) This, according to a story carried in Media in Canada.

In addition to selling the magazine, Wisdom and Al Kingdon, vice-president of retail sales, will also handle advertising for Znaimer's two radio stations, the New Classical 96.3 FM (in the GTA) and 103.1 FM (Eastern Ontario), and AM 740 Zoomer Radio. (Kingdon was previously program director for Hamilton, Ont.'s 820 CHAM, "morning man" at Toronto's Country 59 and newscaster for another Toronto station, 640/The Hog. With 96.3 FM for over a decade, he was appointed sales manager in 2000 and XD retail sales in 2006.)

Related stories:

• Former Flare colleagues to help Boyd run Zoomer
• Znaimer maintains his claim to have invented term "zoomer"
• CARP to become Zoomer in October
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor
  

Zoomer Media buys controlling interest in On The Bay magazine

Zoomer Media Limited has bought a controlling interest in On The Bay magazine for $643,000 in cash. The transaction was announced Thursday in a release. 

On The Bay is a regional lifestyle quarterly based in Collingwood and serving some 20 communities in southern Georgian Bay; it states it has 50,000 readers and serves 300 advertisers.

On The Bay founder Jeff Shearer will continue as publisher of the magazine and, in addition, take over as general manager of Zoomer Media's radio station CFMO-FM – The New Classical 102.9FM out of Collingwood, the only all-classical radio station in the region, reaching listeners throughout Southern Georgian Bay, including Barrie, Owen Sound, Midland, Orillia, and much of central Ontario. 

“I’m truly excited by the potential synergies between our two like-minded quality-driven local voices to not only work well together but to grow both in audiences and advertising support as they become an even stronger media force in Southern Georgian Bay,” stated Mr. Shearer."

Zoomer Media has several other radio properties including CFMZ-FM Toronto – The New Classical 96.3FM, CFMX-FM Cobourg – The New Classical 103.1FM, CFMO-FM – Collingwood – The New Classical 102.9FM, Canada’s only commercial classical music radio stations serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), eastern Ontario and Collingwood, CFZM-AM 740 Toronto and CFZM-FM 96.7FM Toronto – a “timeless hits” Station.

In addition to publishing Zoomer magazine, claiming to be the largest paid circulation magazine in Canada for the mature market, the company produces online content targeting the 45plus age group, the key one being  www.EverythingZoomer.com. It also has a trade show and conference division that produces the ZoomerShows, annual consumer shows directed to the Zoomer demographic and ideaCity, an annual Canadian conference also known as 'Canada's Premiere Meeting of the Minds'.

CARP to become Zoomer in October

Effective with its October issue, CARP the magazine will become Zoomer, it was announced today. According to a story from the National Post, media entrepreneur Moses Znaimer (above) said CARP has joined the AARP Global Network, founded by AARP in 2006. (AARP goes by its initials now, but was once called the American Association of Retired Persons). CARP becomes the third national 50-plus organization to join the network, including ones from Copenhagen and Italy.

As reported here in an earlier post, Znaimer has hired Suzanne Boyd, 44,former editor of Flare and of the shortlived New York magazine Suede, to pilot the new lifestyle magazine, aimed at 50-plus readers. It will be a substantial departure from CARP, which was more service-oriented.

CARP and Zoomer magazine are targeting 3.3 million Canadian baby boomers aged 40 to 49 and 11.2 million that are 50-plus, for a total of 14.5 million, more than half of all Canadians aged 12 or more. This group controls more than half of all spending in Canada, buys 58% of the cars, 55% of the vacations and …well, you get the idea.

In an introductory video, the founder of CityTV, MuchMusic, Space and various specialty TV channels said “the Internet is the new Television.”

Znaimer also said he has signed content deals with Sympatico and LavaLife, the latter a dating site he obviously views as a major component of his Zoomer strategy.

CARP has a circulation of about 190,000 and it was thought that it might continue as a tabloid newspaper; however, it now appears that Znaimer is making a clean break with the past and integrating Zoomer into his multi-media strategy to ride the crest of the aging boomer wave.

Zoomer sells three separate covers, with high value coins, instead of people

Zoomer magazine has created three, complementary covers [one inside the next] for its March issue,each with a coin illustrating the magazine's Money issue.

$1 MM Maple Leaf

The covers are sponsored by and backed by an ad for Sun Life Financial. 

Usually, Zoomer spotlights a mature personality on each of its covers; this is the first time since it was launched that highlights an iconic object, in this case collector coins -- The Spirit of Haida Gwaii, a 10-kilogram gold coin with a face value of $100,000; the silver-plated 25th Anniversary Loonie; and the Maple Leaf $1,000,000 100-kilogram (220 pounds!) gold coin.

Victoria Wisdom, Vice President Sales and Associate Publisher, Zoomer magazine, says in a release:

“Advertisers are looking for creative and differentiating ideas to reach our audience. The triple cover concept for the March issue was just the right environment for Sun Life’s beautifully created ad campaign promoting the launch of its CARP-recommended program. Zoomer has already enjoyed a positive uptake from the ad community about this concept, and we are happy to create this and other special advertising concepts for all our interested advertisers.”

Winners of Canadian Cover Awards announced

The winners of the Canadian Cover Awards were announced on Tuesday night in Toronto, with the following results:

Zoomer wins 2 gold and silver

Vero wins gold for launch issue

General Interest, Arts, Lifestyle and Regional
• L'actualité July 2013 BRONZE
• Reader's Digest January 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Vancouver Magazine October 2012 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Zoomer December 2012/January 2013  GOLD
• Zoomer April 2013 SILVER

Home and Decor
• Chez Soi May 2013 SILVER
• Decormag October 2012 GOLD
• House and Home March 2013 BRONZE
• House and Home September 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Style at Home May 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION

News, Business & Celebrity
• 7 Jours February 1, 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Hello! August 12, 2013 GOLD
• Sharp Winter 2013 BRONZE
• Zoomer December 2012/January 2013 SILVER
• Zoomer April 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION

SIPS and new magazines
• Canadian Living Holiday issue HONOURABLE MENTION• Hockey News Draft Preview HONOURABLE MENTION
• Maclean’s Alberta Flood SILVER
• Style at Home 100+ Easy Renos and Makeovers BRONZE
• Vero V01 #1 GOLD

Small Magazines
• Canada's History December 2012/January 2013 SILVER
• Canada's History August/September 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Ottawa Magazine Summer 2013 GOLD
• This Magazine September/October 2012 BRONZE
• Your Workplace September 2012 HONOURABLE MENTION

Sports and Leisure
• The Hockey News January 28, 2013 BRONZE
• Outdoor Canada Winter 2012/2013 SILVER
• PASMAG August 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• PRN Ignition Summer 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Sportsnet April 1, 2013 GOLD

Women's Service
• Canadian Living May 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Canadian Living September 2013 BRONZE
• Chatelaine June 2013 GOLD
• Châtelaine August 2013 HONOURABLE MENTION
• Coup de Pouce December 2012 SILVER

For the first time, the Newsstand Marketer of the Year was declared a tie, with Bernie Menchise of TC Media and Craig Sweetman of CRS Media Consulting sharing the honour. 

The awards were co-produced by Magazines Canada and the Circulation Management Association of Canada. The awards reception was sponsored by the Alliance for Audited Media and other sponsors were media sponsor Masthead; marketing sponsor Covers Sell; design sponsor K9 Design Co.; promotional retail sponsor Gateway Newsstands.

Laas Turnbull named first audience officer of Zoomer Media & co-publisher of Zoomer

Laas Turnbull, the former publisher of The Grid, has been appointed to a newly created

position as first audience officer at ZoomerMedia and co-publisher of Zoomer magazine. 

"In the role of first audience officer, Laas will lead the IT and digital content team to aggregate audiences across all media properties to leverage their combined impact and engagement." [the announcement said]

As co-publisher, Zoomer Magazine, Laas will support Gord Poland, executive vice-president and chief operating officer and Zoomer’s veteran publisher, to grow the commercial success of the groundbreaking and award-winning lifestyle publication, which is published nine times a year and ranks as Canada’s largest paid circulation magazine for mature men and women.

Quote, unquote: Suzanne Boyd is serving the "then" with the "now"

"When you're young, all you have is your youth. When you're older, you have not just a now but a then. It's a spectrum and the magazine, I believe, can reflect that."

-- Suzanne Boyd, in a profile by the Globe and Mail's James Adams about the forthcoming launch of Zoomer magazine. (It's now in the mail to subscribers and will shortly be on newsstands.)

Related posts:

• Zoomer launch lineup includes several Magaward-winning writers
• For Zoomer mag editor, it's all relevance, relevance, relevance
• Znaimer to launch Zoomer, with Suzanne Boyd as editor
  

Best Canadian magazine newsstand covers to be announced today

The Canadian Cover Awards/Grands prix canadiens-Meilleures couvetures are to be presented Tuesday at the Courtyard Toronto at 6 p.m. Along with the various category winners, this year's Newsstand Marketer of the Year will be named, an individual who demonstrates true innovation in a successful newsstand marketing project. The awards are a joint production of Magazines Canada and the Circulation Management Association of Canada. Sponsors are reception sponsor Alliance for Audited Media, promotional retail sponsor Gateway Newsstands, marketing sponsor Covers Sell and design sponsor K9 Design Co.

Finalists for the awards are after the jump:
Read more »

Two very different views of the "new old"

Moses Znaimer, the founder of Zoomer Media and Zoomer Magazine, has responded to a recent web column by Mireille Silcoff in the National Post. Silcoff was critical of the "Zoomer" mentality.In part...

Silcoff (April 24): I am all for people living the fullest, richest lives possible for as long as possible, great sex included. But I cannot abide by Mr. Znaimer when he claims that his magazine's raison d'etre is in raising the self esteem of the new old. I can think of nothing that could more effectively deliver a collective crisis of confidence than this perfectly bound specimen.

Znaimer (April 29):Mireille Silcoff's piece is really more an expression of her own fear of, and discomfort with, aging (and her mother's aging) than it is a balanced critique of our magazine. Her comments and struggle with how to age are a perfect illustration of Zoomer's mandate and the debate we hope to inspire.

Zoomer magazine capitalizes on Downton with split-run covers of 78-year-old stars

Zoomer magazine is doing a cross-border split cover run hinged on the hit show Downton Abbey, whose 3rd season is absolutely not coincidentally debuting this April on VisionTV, a ZoomerMedia property. 

The April issue split run features a cover with Dame Maggie Smith (the Dowager Countess) in the copies going to Canadian subscribers and Shirley McLaine (Mrs. Levinson, the mother-in-law) on the U.S. newsstand copies. Canadian newsstand buyers will find both versions. A release said:

"Breaking taboos as well as age barriers, the actresses, both 78, appear in character on the cover of Zoomer, wrinkles and all – familiar images to the legions of dedicated viewers who have made Downton Abbey the television phenomenon that it is. In the accompanying cover story, Zoomer’s deputy editor and best-selling novelist Kim Izzo celebrates the return of the battle axe, reflecting on what makes these two seasoned stars, and the tough-as-nails matriarchs they portray, resonate with viewers, young and old."  

Zoomer magazine publisher reports first profitable quarter

[This post has been updated] ZoomerMedia has reported its first profitable quarter. In the three months ended September 30, the company -- which publishes Zoomer magazine --  had a profit of $ 2.33 million on revenues of $14.5 million. This compares with a loss of $561,142 in the comparable quarter a year ago.

The results are a sharp turnaround from its most recent complete year, during which the company had a net operating loss of $6.2 million on revenues of $10.3 million. Most of the turnaround is attributed to acquisitions the company made, including the Vision group of television channels and MZ Media radio stations. 

"We are pleased to report our first profitable quarter. The recent additions of television and radio to our existing Zoomer - oriented magazine and web assets, positions us perfectly to ride the surging demographic wave which is the Zoomer market." said Moses Znaimer, President and Chief Executive Officer of ZoomerMedia Limited in a release.

[Update: You may be amused by a commentary by Shelley Fralic in the Vancouver Sun about the appearance of Moses Znaimer at the Vancouver Convention Centre. 

In Zoomerville, you see, everyone is handsome and energetic and financially flush, with no mortgages and spit-polished grandchildren and a new-found love of opera.]

Zoomer publishers to channel content to TMXmoney.com

Zoomer Media Limited, the publishers of Zoomer magazine have announced they are providing online content to the website TMXmoney.com, which has more than one million unique visitors and 30 million pages views a month across North America.

Zoomer's website 50plus.com will provide health, personal finance and lifestyle content to TMX, which operate various stock and bond markets, including the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, Montreal Exchange. TMXmoney.com, carries North American quotes, charts and news, plus current information on Canadian and US market indices and movers as well as various financial tools.