Next guns for leading rivals in Taiwan debut

<p>TAIPEI: Hong Kong's leading local news publication Next Magazine is </p><p>preparing to launch in Taiwan with plans to go head-to-head with the </p><p>city's established titles. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>While Next's backers, which includes Hong Kong's flamboyant publishing </p><p>tycoon Jimmy Lai among them, has remained tight-lipped about the launch, </p><p>editor-in-chief Peir Woei did however disclose that the title will </p><p>launch with 250,000 copies. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We will go head to head with the largest titles, for example, China </p><p>Times Weekly and Business Weekly," said Peir. That target, if achieved, </p><p>will give the newcomer triple the circulation of 23-year industry </p><p>veteran, China Times Weekly. Taiwan's gossip weeklies, none of which are </p><p>audited, are believed to have circulations topping out at between 80,000 </p><p>and 100,000. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Next's launch is slated for late this month or early June. Despite the </p><p>launch being just weeks away, media circles have been kept in the </p><p>dark. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Sky Hsiao, client service director of CIA Taiwan Media Network, said: </p><p>"There's been no formal presentation, so we're unsure of the editorial </p><p>direction, the expected circulation, or page costs." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The key question media directors are asking is whether Next will take a </p><p>"paparazzi" approach in Taiwan like its parent in Hong Kong. Peir </p><p>skirted the issue. "The likes and dislikes of the people here differ </p><p>from those in Hong Kong," he explained. "There, there's less interest in </p><p>politics, but here people are crazy about it. Here we have a big book </p><p>market, so our reporting will reflect that interest." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meanwhile, Next's rivals are monitoring the situation. China Times </p><p>Weekly editor-in-chief, Chang Kuo-li, said: "If they take the Hong Kong </p><p>route, readers here will think it is fresh." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>This factor may help in the short-term. The success of Next's approach </p><p>in Hong Kong, said Chang, stems from the relative scarcity of </p><p>Chinese-language news media in the city. "Here we have six 24-hour TV </p><p>news channels, more than 10 daily newspapers and many times more </p><p>news-oriented radio stations. Hong Kong doesn't even come close." </p><p><BR><BR> </p>