Primedia Acquires Florida Sportsman Magazine and FloridaSportsman.com

Posted on April 26, 1999

Primedia Inc. has acquired the Florida Sportsman magazine, FloridaSportsman.com, Florida Sportsman Shows and the Florida Sportsman Live! Radio Network, of Miami, Fla. Florida Sportsman magazine, which will join Primedia's more than 25 other outdoor recreation enthusiast titles. FloridaSportsman.com, an e-commerce site which includes the Florida Sportsman Outdoor Store, will join Fly Fisherman's Virtual Flyshop website and the 20 other Primedia outdoor recreation sites.

The business will continue to operate in Florida and Karl Wickstrom, founder of Florida Sportsman, will stay on in his role as publisher. The Florida Sportsman products will be operated by Primedia Special Interest Publications.

"Fishing, which is the number one outdoor recreation hobby in Florida, is a market supported by true enthusiasts," said William F. Reilly, chairman and chief executive officer of Primedia. "A regional fishing and boating title such as Florida Sportsman is exactly the type of property that fits so well with our targeted media company. Over the past two years we have focused on acquiring titles that are targeted to the strong demographic category of fishing and boating enthusiasts."

Florida Sportsman magazine, founded in 1969 and published monthly, has a circulation of 110,000. It is the leading editorial voice for the Florida fishing community. Florida Sportsman also produces various products such as the Florida Sportsman Fishing Charts, Fishing Planners and Lawsticks (measuring tools), and publishes unique resource books, including Sport Fish of Florida.