Maghound

Maghound is an Internet-based magazine membership service developed by Time Inc and branded as "the magazine lover's best friend."^[1] It was launched to counter a decline in magazine sales at United States newsstands.^[2]

Service details

The website allows users to order magazines of their choice; they can change which magazines they receive at any time, unlike conventional subscriptions. The membership service provides members the ability to manage their household's magazines from one online account. However, people who subscribe to magazines using Maghound will not receive premium content which publishers reserve for full subscribers, because sales to Maghound customers will be reported as single-copy sales. Publishers will receive the addresses of Maghound users who buy their magazines, but they cannot advertise to these customers.^[3]

Membership pricing is tiered - three magazines for $4.95 a month, five titles for $7.95, seven titles for $9.95, and $1.00 additional per title for eight titles or more. Approximately 10 percent of magazine titles available through this service include a small premium fee. Currently, membership is available in the U.S. only.

Industry involvement

Maghound Enterprises., Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc. and is headquartered at the Time-Life Building in New York City. The membership service was established in September 2008 and is currently operating in Beta mode. At the time of launch, MAGHOUND featured approximately 240 magazine titles from over 50 publishers, with plans to increase the list on an ongoing basis. It currently offers nearly 300 titles. In addition to all major Time Inc. brands, a partial list of participating publishers also includes: Rodale Press, Bonnier Group, Hearst Corporation, Hachette Filipacchi Médias, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Meredith Corporation, and The Reader's Digest Association, among others.

References

1. ^ Chandra Johnson-Greene (15 September 2008). "Time Inc.'s Maghound Launches". Folio magazine. http://www.foliomag.com/2008/time-inc-s-maghound-launches. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
2. ^ Jeff Bercovici (August 14 2008). "Will This Hound Hunt?". Conde Nast Portfolio. http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/top-5/2008/08/14/Magazine-Sales-Push-Maghound. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
3. ^ David Lieberman (11 July 2008). "Internet service to give magazine subscribers freedom". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2008-07-07-maghound-magazines-online_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-19. 

External links

• Maghound website
• Time Inc. Business Units
• Time Inc. Press Room