Award-Winning Radar Online Leads AMI Digital Fast Track With New Platform

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- David J. Pecker, Chairman, President and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI), announced today that Radar Online (www.radaronline.com), the award-winning leader in breaking entertainment news, has revamped both its internal and mobile platforms, to deliver a cutting edge product to its core and growing audience. Radar Online recently took home five awards, including first place in the TV/Video/Film News category, at the National Entertainment Journalism Awards in Los Angeles. "With consumers demanding nearly 24/7 access to entertainment media, news and images, it is our goal to meet that demand with a mobile, online presence that defines the category," said David Pecker. "AMI's growing digital footprint meshes perfectly with Radar's award-winning content."

The revitalization of the four-year-old Radar Online, falls under the umbrella of the larger AMI digital footprint, being developed by AMI Chief Digital Officer Joe Bilman, who took over in the newly created position last August. A pioneer in the mobile marketplace, Bilman was tasked with making AMI a leader across all brands in the digital arena.

"We began by focusing on Radar Online, where we were fast to bring a new product to market from start to finish," said Bilman. "This is just the beginning of many changes to come this year. AMI has staked a major investment of $30 million in technology over the next three years, to drive our vision and carve out a dominant position, both in content and mobility, across all AMI titles," Bilman said.

The Radar Online re-launch will open the door for a wide range of new editorial opportunities, explained AMI Executive Vice President, Content, and Editor-in-Chief of Radar Online, David Perel. "The AMI digital team has created a vibrant, online experience for our consumers in all places on all devices," said Perel. "Now, our broad sweep of top entertainment coverage will have a template to expand, further developing the relationship between consumers and the latest media, on Radar Online."

With Radar Online's new world-class infrastructure in place, AMI has taken ownership of its mobile platform, offering a dramatically improved visual and user interface, explains AMI General Manager, Entertainment, Peter Van Dijck. "Radar Online, through mobile and iPad/tablet devices, is now able to support a growing audience, which has doubled to 10 million unique visits a month," he said. "In 2012, mobile traffic has jumped from 11% to 37%. At this rate, we hope to reach 50% by the end of the year."

With a fresh new look, superior content, and enhanced mobility to deliver it, Radar Online is matching its product launch with robust sales support to grow the business, said David Pecker, AMI Chairman, President and CEO. "Radar, OK, and Star online bolster AMI's complete portfolio for all consumer entertainment, news, and gossip interests. We are well-positioned to be an industry leader in this thriving segment."

About Radar Online:

RadarOnline.com is the award-winning leader in breaking entertainment news. We deliver fast, unbiased breaking stories to the industry's largest media platforms and an exploding audience of dedicated online consumers.

About American Media, Inc.:

American Media, Inc. (AMI) owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Soap Opera Digest, Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, CountryWeekly.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of 7.4 million and reach more than 61 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 34 million unique visitors and 169 million page views monthly.

AMI also provides Publishing Services which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI's publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions.

SOURCE American Media, Inc.