Fairfax buys IDG magazines in NZ

Australasian media company Fairfax said today it was taking over the local assets of IDG publications including Computerworld and PC World.

Fairfax Business Media (FBM), the financial publishing unit of John Fairfax Holdings will obtain a licence to publish IDG's global IT content and mastheads in Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

It will also buy IDG's circulation information and infrastructure.

IDG, publisher of CIO and Network World, will pick up Fairfax's British assets, including MIS UK and the Market Base database.

As well as Computerworld, and PC World, IDG publications in New Zealand are CIO and NZ Reseller, giving it the most comprehensive suite of products in the local market, Fairfax said.

Fairfax will continue to invest in the dedicated focus on New Zealand's IT sector which IDG has developed over more than two decades, it said.

"With this transaction and through our on-going relationship with IDG, Fairfax will continue to develop the world class information service regional CIO's and IT professionals already receive from the two companies," Michael Gill, publisher and editor in chief, FBM, said.

Most IDG staff on the titles Fairfax is acquiring and licensing will move across to Fairfax and continue in their current roles, he said.

The on-going relationship between the two companies would also provide Fairfax with access to IDG's global IT news service.

Mr Gill said that would allow the company to rapidly develop on-line editorial properties for the technology industry which he said was at the forefront of exploiting the internet as an advertising channel.

IDG is based in Boston and is the world's largest technology media group. It publishes over 300 titles in 85 countries with global brands including PC World, Computerworld, CIO and Network World.

- NZPA