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Playboy's Loss Widens
wsj ^ | 5/12/09

Posted on 05/12/2009 10:18:29 AM PDT by FromLori

Playboy Enterprises Inc. is considering reducing the circulation of its namesake magazine, cutting its frequency and raising prices as a diminishing print audience and advertising declines weigh on the adult-entertainment company. On Monday Playboy posted a net loss of $13.7 million, or 41 cents per share, for the first quarter, compared with a net loss of $4.2 million, or 13 cents per share, a year earlier. The latest results included $8.7 million in impairment and restructuring charges. Jerome Kern, Playboy's interim chairman and chief executive officer since Christie Hefner stepped down at the end of last year, said in a conference call with analysts that while the magazine is important to the company's image and brand, "it is clear that this company cannot continue to sustain significant losses in a business that now comprises less than one quarter of the company's revenue base." Playboy magazine, which has a guaranteed circulation of 2.6 million, this summer will combine its July and August issues to save money on printing and distribution, a move it says could be a precursor to a permanent curtailing of frequency. In recent years, Playboy has seen its audience decline due to the proliferation of options for adult content. In response, the company has implemented extensive cost-cutting efforts.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: playboy
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To: FromLori

“Spread” the wealth? ;-P


21 posted on 05/12/2009 10:31:24 AM PDT by MortMan (Power without responsibility-the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages. - Rudyard Kipling)
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To: jws3sticks

Yea, I’ll learn myself that techique some day.


22 posted on 05/12/2009 10:31:37 AM PDT by PurpleMan
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To: 2harddrive
Yes, the Internet is hurting many businesses. I myself can't remember when the last time I bought a CD or DVD, or in fact, a book at a local music or book store. I just do a simple click on Amazon and a couple days later I get it in the mail. No muss no fuss and I don't even have to leave my house to find a parking place somewhere down town.
23 posted on 05/12/2009 10:32:10 AM PDT by fish hawk (The trouble with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: FromLori
Playboy's Loss Widens

How big of a spread are we talking about? /snicker

24 posted on 05/12/2009 10:33:02 AM PDT by library user
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To: FromLori

The profit SPREAD shows that Playboy ain’t got LEGS. If they had stayed aBREAST of technology, they’d have seen that the PUB(l)IC wasn’t there.


25 posted on 05/12/2009 10:33:38 AM PDT by Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union, then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
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To: FromLori
Playboy's business model is simply unsustainable, even given their multimedia brand extensions, which are themselves unprofitable. High-volume national distribution of print media is a dying business, to start with. Production expenses greatly outweigh cash flow from newsstand purchases and from an aging and diminishing subscriber base. And, last but not least: Playboy's "value proposition" (ahem) is no longer unique, irreplaceable, or (in fact) all that attractive. Based on recent factory output, I would observe that their primary quality metrics have declined relative to established baseline standards.
26 posted on 05/12/2009 10:34:09 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.)
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To: FromLori

I warned Heff against the Helen Thomas/Hillary Clinton centerfold issue, even Popular Mechanics rejected it.


27 posted on 05/12/2009 10:34:28 AM PDT by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: FromLori
Snicker sorry

True.

But Three Musketeers RULES.

28 posted on 05/12/2009 10:34:43 AM PDT by Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union, then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
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To: FromLori

“OH! THE HUGE MAMMARIES!”

Even Viagra won’t help the magazines limp sales.


29 posted on 05/12/2009 10:35:08 AM PDT by LeonardFMason
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To: LetsRok
same here...I actually did read the articles, after perusing the pics...Asa Baber was a great column to read every month, but no more..RIP..

liberal rag, die like the rest of your ilk..

30 posted on 05/12/2009 10:35:19 AM PDT by Fedupwithit (This is it? This has where "progress" has taken us?)
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To: FromLori

Playboy needs a bailout from the Head Pimp in Charge.


31 posted on 05/12/2009 10:37:45 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and then blaming conservatives.)
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To: Lazamataz

From the Playboy Editors...

Dear Mr. Lazamataz,
Thank you for your comments but next time please
LICK the envelope closed.

Signed Hugh H.


32 posted on 05/12/2009 10:39:34 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: FromLori

In other news Porn mags sales go limp!


33 posted on 05/12/2009 10:40:10 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
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To: FromLori

Wardrobe expenses too high?


34 posted on 05/12/2009 10:40:10 AM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: Hacklehead
Playboy needs a bailout from the Head Pimp in Charge

Seriously, it could happen.

35 posted on 05/12/2009 10:41:07 AM PDT by oyez (To the extent veterans read it as an accusation -- and apology is owed(i.e. not given))
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To: FromLori; All
Playboy is Lame. The articles have always been left wing crap. The interviews are with people nobody cares about.

My understanding is that Hefner has "reverse mortgaged" himself out of the mansion in LA. Maybe someone here can confirm this.

Good riddance to a guy who has done enornorous damage to American Culture.

The Internet has finished Playboy off. The magazine was never more than a "girlie" magazine dressed up with left wing dribble.
36 posted on 05/12/2009 10:51:47 AM PDT by truthguy (Good intentions are not enough!)
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To: Lazamataz

Times are tough, Laz, when you have to uppercase the words so we get the puns.

You didn’t used to have to do that on FR. What’s changed?


37 posted on 05/12/2009 11:01:50 AM PDT by dmz
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To: FromLori

Are they gonna trim the budget or budget the....?


38 posted on 05/12/2009 11:03:30 AM PDT by Eagle Eye (Defending RINOs is the same as defending Liberals.)
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To: dmz
You didn’t used to have to do that on FR. What’s changed?

It's the Great Punpression of 2009.

39 posted on 05/12/2009 11:04:44 AM PDT by Lazamataz ("We beat the Soviet Union, then we became them." -- Lazamataz, 2005)
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To: FromLori

I say good riddance to a magazine that has contributed to the downfall of our culture by portraying women as mere sex objects.


40 posted on 05/12/2009 11:10:56 AM PDT by Pinkbell
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