The publisher of Irvine-based Cycle World has acquired nine motorcycle magazines and will shift six titles in its TransWorld action-sports group to GrindMedia in San Clemente.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Winter Park, Fla.-based Bonnier Corp. will acquire Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Dirt Rider, Motorcycle Cruiser, Hot Bike, Baggers, Super Streetbike, Street Chopper and ATV from GrindMedia.
Cycle World is a monthly magazine with a circulation of 235,000. The titles acquired in the recent deal will be folded into the Bonnier Motorcycle Group, making it the largest motorcycle-enthusiast media group in the world, according to company executives.
“Our new portfolio of motorcycle brands positions us to serve every segment of the motorcycle community and reach the largest aggregate of motorcycle enthusiast consumers possible, said Eric Zinczenko, executive vice president. “The new Bonnier Motorcycle Group’s audience demographics complement those of our existing men’s titles. This will allow our company to approach our advertising base with even more scale and deeper integrated offerings.”
Bonnier Corp. followed an announcement of the deal with the appointment of Cycle World Publisher Andrew Leisner to vice president and publisher of the newly formed group.
Bonnier Corp. ranks among the top 10 publishing companies in the U.S., with a roster of magazines that ranges from Field & Stream to Saveur. It has more than 1,000 employees and $350 million in annual revenue.
It’s the U.S. division of Sweden-based Bonnier Group, a media group with assets in television, newspapers, magazines, movies, books and digital media.
GrindMedia will get TransWorld Surf, TransWorld Snowboarding, TransWorld Skateboarding, TransWorld Ride BMX, TransWorld Motocross and TransWorld Business. The company already has a number of action-sports titles, including Surfer, Powder and Skateboarder.
“The addition of these fantastic brands to the GrindMedia portfolio further underscores our commitment to the belief that unique, quality content is the foundation of today’s dynamic enthusiast media company,” said Norb Garrett, a senior vice president and group publisher. “Like our readers and our advertisers, we are passionate about these sports and we look forward to the TransWorld family joining ours at GrindMedia.”
GrindMedia’s parent company, El Segundo-based Source Interlink Media LLC, also gets Sound + Vision from Bonnier Corp., adding to its Home Technology Group, which includes magazines Home Theater, Stereophile, Shutterbug and Petersen’s Photographic.
Source Interlink Media is part of Source Interlink Cos. of Bonita Springs, Fla., with annual revenue in excess of $1.1 billion. n
