Bally Total Fitness to Launch Magazine

Posted on January 4, 2002

Bally Total Fitness and RB Publishing Inc., announced that the companies have signed an agreement to publish a quarterly health and fitness magazine. The magazine will begin circulation in the second quarter of 2002, with a minimum printing of 400,000 copies. Distribution of the magazine will include direct mail to members, in-club distribution and potential newsstand distribution.

Paul Toback, COO of Bally Total Fitness, says in a statement, "This magazine is going to be the one-stop shop for all of your health and fitness information needs. As the premier player in the category, this partnership will give us a terrific vehicle to share our unsurpassed experience and knowledge, as well as expand the reach of Brand Bally beyond the clubs.''

The target audience for the new Bally magazine will include adult health and fitness enthusiasts. RB Publishing, which has also provided custom publications for the United States Postal Service, Xerox and Pitney Bowes, will control all advertising sales, coordinate all editorial and other aspects of publishing the magazine.

Bally Total Fitness also recently announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Crunch Fitness, a fitness and entertainment brand. Crunch Fitness has 19 clubs focused on the young, upscale, urban fitness market. Bally Total Fitness and Crunch announced acquisition plans on October 15, 2001. Crunch also recently announced a new fitness magazine called Crunch magazine.