Next guns for leading rivals in Taiwan debut

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

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