Heat (magazine)

Infobox_Magazine
title = Heat


editor = Julian Linley
frequency = Weekly
category = Entertainment
publisher = Bauer Verlagsgruppe
firstdate = 1999
country = flag|United Kingdom
language = British English
website = [http://www.heatworld.com heatworld.com]
issn = 1465-6264

"Heat" is a British entertainment magazine published by Bauer Consumer Media. As of 2004 it is one of the biggest selling magazines in the UK, with a regular circulation over half a million. Its mix of celebrity news, gossip and fashion is primarily aimed at women, although not as directly as in other women's magazines. It also features movie and music reviews, TV listings and major celebrity interviews.

"Heat" was launched in February 1999 as a general interest entertainment magazine, at a cost of more than £4m. However, unlike other Emap launches before and after, it was not an immediate success, with a circulation below 100,000. A series of revamps quickly repositioned the magazine as a less serious, more gossip-oriented magazine aimed at women, and circulation quickly grew. A series of high-profile celebrity relationships, such as between David and Victoria Beckham, and Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt provided ample material, while reality shows such as "Big Brother" and "Pop Idol" grew popular at just the right time to help fill pages. Heat achieved record sale figures when Jade Goody had a make-over and was first on the front cover after her stint in UK Big Brother 3 (2002) and later when Nikki Grahme and Pete Bennet from UK Big Brother 7 split and Nikki spoke exclusively to Heat (2006).

From 2000, the magazine was edited by Mark Frith, who announced his resignation in February 2008. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7269805.stm|title=Heat editor quits to write book|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-02-28|accessdate=2008-03-02] Distribution cost is currently £1.65.

A version of the magazine is also published in South Africa. [cite web | url=http://www.media24.com/details.asp?category=magazines&publication=heat | publisher=Media24 | title=heat | accessdate=2007-01-12]

Heatworld.com

Heatworld.com launched on May 22, 2007 and is edited by Julian Linley who was deputy editor of Heat magazine for 5 and a half years. The site is an online interpretation of the magazine emulating the mix of celebrity news, gossip and fashion. However, heatworld.com does not replicate magazine content and bases itself more on video and audio content and breaking news. The site is advertising funded.

Heat Radio

On September 25, Heat Radio launched. The station is owned by Bauer Radio, a division of the company, Bauer which owns the magazine. The station can be listened to through digital television (Sky 0179 & Freeview 714) and through DAB radio. It can also be listened to through a live steam on the website. [cite news|title=Exciting news: heat radio has JUST launched!|url=http://www.heatworld.com/Article/2418/Exciting+news%3a+heat+radio+has+JUST+launched!|publisher=Heatworld|date=2007-09-25|accessdate=2007-12-03] . Shows are presented by Lucie Cave, Bronagh Meere and Rachael Hopper. Celebrities often present shows on a one week contract. On September 26, just one day after launching, the station received criticism when during the 11 O'clock News Bulletin, Sophie Davidson swore repeatedly for accidentally playing music during the bulletin, she has since been sacked by the station. They released an apology the same day. [cite news|title=Oops...|url=http://www.heatworld.com/Article/2446/Oops...|publisher=Heatworld|date=2007-09-26|accessdate=2007-12-03]

Heat merchandise

As "Heat" magazine grew in popularity, spin off merchandise was released to cash in on its success. Current items carrying the "Heat" name are an exercise DVD titled "Heat: Get That Celeb Look" which was released in 2003, an interactive DVD game featuring celebrity questions, an annual for the year 2007 and in 2003 a set of mini books titled "Say What" were released containing quotes from celebrities such as Gareth Gates.

Controversy

In an issue which was released on 27 November 2007, "Heat" used an image of Katie Price's disabled son, who suffers from septo-optic dysplasia, a rare condition which means he is visually impaired and suffers from hormonal deficiencies, causing him to easily gain weight and means he is partially blind, [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/newsbeat/071129_harvey.shtml "BBC Radio 1"] "Harvey sticker: Your views", November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.] on a sticker which was included with the magazine, with the slogan "Harvey wants to eat me!" The magazine's editor Mark Frith made an apology for the offence caused by the sticker, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7118727.stm "BBC News"] "Heat sorry for Jordan son sticker ", November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.] and an apology was also posted on the magazine's website. [ [http://www.heatworld.com/Article.aspx?articleid=3326&title=Harvey+%E2%80%93+Sorry "Heatworld.com"] "Harvey - Sorry", November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.] A spokesperson for the Press Complaints Commission confirmed that Katie Price was planning to make a complaint about the matter. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a80880/jordan-to-complain-to-pcc-over-magazine.html "Digital Spy"] "Jordan to complain to PCC over magazine", November 30, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.] The magazine was also criticised in the press over the incident, with one editorial describing it as "the lowest point in British journalism". [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/janice_turner/article2980262.ece "The Times"] "The lowest point in British journalism", December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.]

ee Also

*Lucie Cave

References

External links

* [http://www.heatworld.com Official Heat website]