IPC and Emap limber up to launch men's titles

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The battle in the men's magazine market is set to get tougher, with both Emap and IPC planning launches.

After finding winners with women's weeklies Heat and Closer, Emap is hoping to find similar success with a weekly title for men. 

Sources suggest a summer or autumn launch date has been scheduled for a weekly title with a "laddish" leaning.

Barry McIlheney, former managing director of Emap Élan, who was put in charge of special projects at Emap last year, said: "It is an interesting area and one we would look at," although he denied speculation that Emap was at an advanced stage with such a launch.

IPC is also thought to be looking at a men's launch, although it is unclear whether it will be weekly or monthly.

This week, IPC Ignite! - which houses the company's men's and music portfolio - rejigged its publishing team, relinquishing group publishing director Eric Fuller's responsibility for Uncut and Muzik. It is seen as a move to allow him to focus on new product development.

Last year, Mike Soutar was made editorial director at the company and a launch into the men's or music market remains anticipated.

Meanwhile, monthly men's magazines continued to show decline in unaudited figures for March,with Front, Loaded and Maxim's circulations all down on last year.