SHAPE and ASICS Launch "Interact with Get Fit"

NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SHAPE, the leading active lifestyle magazine for women and one of American Media, Inc.'s (AMI) most popular titles, announced today that beginning with the March issue, readers will be able to directly connect with one of SHAPE's celebrated editorial sections, Get Fit.  

Get Fit will be "interactive" in every sense of the word - offering readers deeper engagement with editorial content in a variety of ways, including instructional how-to videos and slideshows. Using watermark technology, custom-designed Interact with Get Fit icons will appear throughout the editorial section.  Readers need simply scan the icon to view the specialized, expanded content.      

SHAPE is partnering on the initiative with ASICS, whose branding will be seamlessly integrated into the mobile editorial content. Examples include branded mobile pages, gear guides and product placement within custom videos to name a few.  

"It's a win-win program," said SHAPE Publisher, Brian Gruseke. "Readers will receive additional editorial content and ASICS can take advantage of a unique, new way to reach consumers with their marketing message."         

"ASICS has always been committed to finding new ways to help athletes everywhere achieve their health and fitness goals, so we're thrilled to be part of a digitally innovative program like this one," said Erik Forsell, ASICS' Vice President of Marketing. "At ASICS we 'Stop at Never' when it comes to athletic performance, and we're excited to find partners like SHAPE and their Get Fit program that share the same philosophy."

Interact with Get Fit will appear in six issues in 2012 starting in March.

About American Media, Inc.

American Media, Inc. 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, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, 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, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit 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.  Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services. 

SOURCE American Media, Inc.