I-5 Publishing LLC, a newly formed joint venture of publishing industry executives David Fry and Mark Harris, announced last week that it has acquired the books, magazines and websites of BowTie Inc., the publisher of Pet Product News International and other leading special-interest brands such as Cat Fancy and Dog Fancy.“We are thrilled to bring these storied brands under our umbrella,” said Harris, who has been appointed interim CEO of I-5 Publishing. “Combining the talented, passionate teams that have built such a robust content engine with the technology and expertise of our existing joint ventures creates the perfect platform on which to create an infinite variety of special-interest content for delivery in all formats.”
I-5 Publishing is the latest in a series of professional partnerships between Fry and Harris and their respective companies. Harris is the co-founder and co-owner of National Publisher Services (NPS), the leading provider of publishing management services. Fry is the chairman of NPI Ventures LLC, which owns 50 percent of NPS, and the chief technology officer of Fry Communications, one of the nation’s largest privately held integrated communications companies.
This consolidation may be further evidence of a publishing industry that needs to re-invent itself as brands move resources to other media strategies. Maintaining levels of visual impressions and profitability as circulation declines is the order of the day. However, uncertainty rules and a clear view of the future for brand development, influencer and loyalty programs remains elusive.
Too bad all the writers and photographers who were owed money by BowTie aren't going to get paid.
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