According to a media report, following the merger of the TV broadcaster RTL with Gruner + Jahr, many magazines from the traditional Hamburg publisher are now up for sale. There are already negotiations with interested publishers to buy magazines such as “Brigitte”, “Gala” and “Schöner Wohnen”, reported the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” on Wednesday, citing potential buyers. Deals might therefore go ahead in the first quarter of 2023.
Bids would be between 50 and 100 million euros. The most coveted brand is the women’s magazine “Brigitte” along with its offshoots such as “Brigitte Woman”, “Brigitte Mom” and “Brigitte Leben”.
Gruner + Jahr, RTL and the parent company Bertelsmann were initially unable to comment. An RTL spokesman is quoted in the report as saying that the results of the ongoing “analysis of the title portfolio” have not yet been determined and are only “planned for the first quarter of 2023”. Until then, they do not want to “comment on speculation regarding individual titles or measures”.
