Will 'King of Magazines' Spin Off Print Unit? Execs 'Not Opposed'
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Media companies have been streamlining their businesses by cleaving off underperforming print units from more lucrative TV, film and digital businesses. Just this year, Time Warner spun off magazine division Time Inc., Tribune Company split apart its TV and newspaper businesses and Gannett announced plans to divide TV and print, all following similar moves from other companies in years prior.
But Meredith Corporation, publisher of magazines like Better Homes and Gardens as well as the owner and operator of 15 local TV stations, has not joined the movement. During an investor call Thursday to discuss its most-recent earnings report, an analyst asked Meredith executives whether it would ever follow the trend.
“We are not opposed to it,” said Meredith Chairman and CEO Stephen Lacy. But the Des Moines, Iowa-based company would need to “feel there’s a larger opportunity on one side of the house that would create value for shareholders” instead of just separating for the sake of it, he added.
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