- Beckett Media
Infobox Company
name = Beckett Media
type = Private (subsidiary)
genre =collectibles ,sports ,trading cards
foundation =Bowling Green, Ohio (1984)
founder =James Beckett
location_city =Dallas, Texas
location_country = U.S.
locations =
area_served = U.S.
key_people = Peter A. Gudmundsson,CEO
industry =publication ,sports memorabilia
products =sports memorabilia ,pricing guide s
revenue = $14.1 million (2007)
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
num_employees = 135cite web |url=http://www.hoovers.com/beckett-media/--ID__139032--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml |title=Beckett Media |publisher=Hoover's |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]
parent = Apprise Media
divisions = magazine publication, Beckett Grading Services
subsid =
slogan = The # authority on collectibles
homepage = http://www.beckett.com/
footnotes =
intl =Beckett Media is a privately held subsidiary of Apprise Media. Founded in 1984 by
James Beckett , the company focuses on the collectible industries, especially in the area of sports collectibles.History
Dr. James Beckett, considered to be one of the world's leading authorities on sports memorabilia cards, was a statistics professor before he decided to turn his love of sports cards into a business.cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-509284/Mark-Thatchers-ex-wife-Diane-marry-15-million-American-tycoon.html |title=Mark Thatcher's ex-wife Diane to marry £15 million American tycoon |first=Sharon |last=Churcher |date=2008-01-19 |publisher=
The Daily Mail |work=Mail Online |accessdate=2008-09-18 ] He founded Beckett Media in 1984. [cite web | url=http://www.apprisemedia.com/beckett_media.php |title=Beckett Media LP |publisher=Apprise Media | accessdate=2008-01-14]In January 2005, Beckett sold the company to Appraise media, which wanted to expand its niche and enthusiast media holdings, Appraise Media. [cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/publishing/5042375-1.html |title=Apprise Media Acquires CFW Enterprises, Leading Publisher of Action Sports Magazines; Names... |publisher=
Business Wire |date=2005-08-17 |accessdate=2008-09-18 ] On January 26, Appraise Media hired Peter A. Gudmundsson as the companyCEO . [cite press release |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20050126005468/en |title= Gudmundsson Named CEO of Beckett Media; Will Work to Expand Company Through New Products & Services |date=2005-01-26 |accessdate=2008-09-18 |publisher=Business Wire ]Less than four years after the Appraise Media acquisition, Beckett Media was rumored to again be for sale in May 2008, with five unspecified companies considering purchasing the company.
Products
Magazines
Beckett Media publishes four magazines covering non-sports collectible card games, such as , and hobby/entertainment topics such as
anime andmanga . In 2005, the various titles had a combined circulation of 800,000 copies. In 2008, the circulation varies between 500,000 and 700,000, and the company began cutting back on its monthly publications to reduce overhead. While the plan was successful, it also earned the company flack from consumers and caused an continuing decrease in sales.cite web |url=http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/05/12/story9.html |title=Less than four years later, Beckett again for sale |first=Dave |last=Moore |work=Dallas Business Journal |date=2008-05-13 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]In 2003, Virtual pets site
Neopets selected Beckett Media as the publisher of its new monthly "Neopets: The Official Magazine". The bi-monthly magazine premiered in September 2003 [cite web |url=http://www.neopets.com/nf.phtml?nf_date=2003-09-08 |title=Neopets News |publisher=Neopets |date=2003-09-11 |accessdate=2008-06-12 ] , and was canceled in January 2008 after 26 issues. Beckett replace the issues remaining in pre-paid subscriptions with their new bi-monthly magazine, "Plushie Pals". [Letter to subscribers sent by Beckett media] Verify credibility|date=September 2008 Aimed at plushie collectors, "Plushie Pals" includes pricing guides for a range of plushie lines, including Neopets,Webkinz ,Shining Stars ,TY Beanie Babies , andPokemon . [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_July_3/ai_n19332108 |title=Red Hot Collectibles Covered in Beckett's Plushie Pals |work=Business Wire |publisher=CNET Networks |date=2007-07-03 |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]The company made its first foray into the video game arena in 2006, with the creation of "Beckett Massive Online Gamer". The first issue was released in May 2006 and included information for players of various
massively multiplayer online games (MMORGs), products related to the games, and articles on lifestyle and entertainment topics.cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8901 |title=Beckett to Launch MMOG Magazine |first=Jason |last=Dobson |date=2006-04-13 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]Beckett Media publishes numerous price guides and other books related to collectibles and distributes sports memorabilia.cite web | url=http://www.beckett.com/mediarelations/aboutbeckett.html |title=Corporate Overview |publisher=Becket Media | accessdate=2008-01-14] In 2008, it converted its four monthly price guides for football, baseball, hockey, and basketball cards, into seasonal titles. "Becket Sports Card Monthly" became its only monthly sports related magazine with its premiere in April 2008.cite web |url=http://www.beckett.com/contentviewer/default3.osi?cid=1939 |title=2008 Beckett Sports Lineup FAQ |publisher=Beckett Media |accessdate=2008-09-21 ]
ports card grading
Beckett Media runs a
sports card grading service, Beckett Grading Services, which is the exclusive grader and authenticator of Topps Vault trading cards. [cite web | url=http://www.beckett.com/estore/info.asp?T=CP&D=1110&eskin=beckett |title=Beckett Partners |publisher=Beckett Media | accessdate=2008-01-14]Fanspot.com
In November 2005, the company began working to create a
social networking website for casual sports fans. In April 2006, they launched the resulting site, FanSpot.com, at the 2006National Sports Collectors Convention . [cite web |url=http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/thebuzz/stories/082306dnspodavis.29268de.html |title=Stars' version of two-a-days |first=Steve |last=Davis |date=2006-08-22 |publisher=WFAA |accessdate=2008-09-18 ] cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_200608/ai_n16633129 |title=FanSpot Asks: Are You Fan Enough? |month=August |year=2006 |publisher=FindArticles.com , Market Wire |accessdate=2008-09-18 ] By the end of the month, the site had 1800 registered users. [cite news |title=Company takes a swing at creating a MySpace for sports fans |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |first=Aman |last=Batheja |date=August 30, 2006 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-17450152_ITM ]Criticism
Since 2001, the circulation of the company's monthly publications showed steady decline. In 2008, Beckett began restructuring its titles, convertting its four monthly sports specific pricing guides to seasonal titles, and replacing them with a single monthly title. This angered some collectors, resulting in a further decrease in sales. Others in the industry also questioned Beckett's choice, feeling they company should have raised the magazine prices rather than drop titles.
References
External links
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