Bloomberg Business Week plunges ahead with alternative delivery

In the wake of our recent post about the need for Canadian magazines to get cracking on alternative delivery comes word that Bloomberg Business Week magazine since December has been working on a strategy to get its magazine delivered by daily newspaper contractors in metropolitan markets. Right now, 9% (about 75,000) of the magazine's 860,000 circ is delivered this way, according to a story in

US Postal Service announces no increase in magazine mailing rates

This seems a day for postal news. U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter has sent a letter to customers officially announcing there will be no rate hike for "market dominant products." Magazine publishers had been expecting a 2 to 3 percent increase in May and some had even speculated about 10 percent. "We want to end all speculation," said Potter who, on Wednesday, told a conference in New York

Canada Post: No time for Canadian mags, but lots for U.S. competitors

We find it interesting that Canada Post, which has generally treated the magazine industry as something between a nuisance and a "rounding error", is so cozy with other industry organizations.For instance IDEAlliance, which is a U.S. organization representing the publishing,information technology and direct mail sector. Canada Post has four staff sitting as members of its Canada Mail committee,

Information about undeliverable magazines will now come electronically

Starting January 14, the old system of magazines receiving a bundle of covers and address blocks torn off undeliverable magazines will be going the way of the dodo. After consultation with the industry, Canada Post is instituting an electronic reporting system.Publications currently pay for the undeliverables service as part of their publications mail agreement. Now, though they'll have to

Canada Post creates virtual community; what a crock

We wonder what portion of its inevitable forthcoming increase in rates to deliver magazines will be required to cover the costs of Canada Post's loopy venture into Second Life. According to a story in Media in Canada:Canada Post has founded the virtual city of Maple Grove, an online community where this holiday season's online shoppers will be able to browse in the 3-D cyber stores of the

Chocolat magazine to melt away; Rogers announces closure

[This post has been updated]Rogers Publishing is killing Chocolat magazine, the end of a controversial cooperative venture with Canada Post, launched just last year. The staff of the English, French and online components of the magazine have been informed. Significant layoffs are expected, though some staffers will be absorbed in other titles. The last issue, October, will be distributed

Magazines Canada asks feds to support PAP and rein in Canada Post

Magazines Canada has asked the federal government to make Canada Post Corporation meeting its cultural responsibilities before authorizing substantial changes to its mandate and role or in its pricing structure. In its annual pre-budget submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, the national magazine association said that the publications assistance program (PAP -- postal subsidy) is

NAFTA decision may be good news for the PAP, and for magazines

[This post has been updated*]There may be significant long-term benefits for the magazine industry growing out of a decision announced Monday by a NAFTA arbitration tribunal in Washington. It concerned the case of UPS v. Government of Canada initiated under NAFTA’s Chapter 11. Part of the tribunal's decision has what may be precedent-setting implications for the Publications Assistance Program (

Rogers mags to test alternative delivery

Rogers Media is to launch a pilot project for alternative delivery of some of its magazines by using independent newspaper contractors (the shadowy people who drive around our streets in the dark of night making sure the Globe and Mail gets tossed into the juniper bush, just out of reach.) Brian Master has been engaged as project manager, reporting to Michael Fox, Senior Vice-President

Benefit costs driving magazine postal increases

Canada Post's margins from delivering a typical magazine have slid about 4% in the past year, mostly the result of an astonishing 10% increase in costs, according to an analysis prepared by Michael J. Fox, Senior Vice-president of Circulation and Development at Rogers Media.It’s disappointing to see the 2006 margin setback because we fear Ottawa-based CPC will pursue more rate increases rather

Canada Post and CUPW come to terms; will this moderate rates?

Canada Post has concluded a 4-year agreement with its largest union, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). The new agreement will be in place until January 31, 2011.The agreement was tentatively reached February 8, but ratification by all members wasn't completed until April 22. Details of the agreement will be made public once the document is formally signed. It is known to provide a