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Beckett's magazine lineup presently includes Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Beckett Baseball (10 issues a year), Beckett Football (eight issues a year), Beckett Basketball (six issues a year), Beckett Hockey (six issues a year), Beckett Graded Card Investor (six issues a year) and the newly relaunched Beckett Racing (four times a year). Before BSCM was created, there were single monthly sports titles for each of those sports.
Beckett's magazine lineup presently includes Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Beckett Baseball (10 issues a year), Beckett Football (eight issues a year), Beckett Basketball (six issues a year), Beckett Hockey (six issues a year), Beckett Graded Card Investor (six issues a year) and the newly relaunched Beckett Racing (four times a year). Before BSCM was created, there were single monthly sports titles for each of those sports.


Including its non-sports titles (below), its circulation tops 1.1 million.[http://beta.beckett.com/Content/Corporate/AboutUs.aspx title]
Its circulation tops 1.1 million.[http://beta.beckett.com/Content/Corporate/AboutUs.aspx title]


It also publishes four magazines covering non-sports collectible card games, such as ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', and hobby/entertainment topics such as [[anime]] and [[manga]].<ref name="CorpOverview" /><ref name="Gamasutra" /> In 2005, the various titles had a combined circulation of 800,000 copies. In 2008, the circulation varies between 500,000 and 700,000, and the company began cutting back on its monthly publications to reduce overhead. While the plan was successful, it also earned the company flack from consumers and caused an continuing decrease in sales.<ref name="CirculationDropped">{{cite web |url=http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/05/12/story9.html |title=Less than four years later, Beckett again for sale |first=Dave |last=Moore |work=[[Dallas Business Journal]] |date=May 13, 2008 |accessdate=September 21, 2008 }}</ref> In 2003, [[virtual pets]] site [[Neopets]] selected Beckett Media as the publisher of its new monthly ''Neopets: The Official Magazine''. The bi-monthly magazine premiered in September 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neopets.com/nf.phtml?nf_date=2003-09-08 |title=Neopets News |publisher=Neopets |date=September 11, 2003 |accessdate=June 12, 2008 }}</ref>, and was canceled in January 2008 after 26 issues. Beckett replace the issues remaining in pre-paid subscriptions with their new bi-monthly magazine, ''Plushie Pals''.<ref>Letter to subscribers sent by Beckett media</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=September 2008}} Aimed at plushie collectors, ''Plushie Pals'' includes pricing guides for a range of plushie lines, including Neopets, [[Webkinz]], [[Shining Stars]], [[TY Beanie Babies]], and [[Pokémon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_July_3/ai_n19332108 |title=Red Hot Collectibles Covered in Beckett's Plushie Pals |work=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |date=July 3, 2007 |accessdate=September 21, 2008 }}</ref> In October 2009, it introduced a new magazine, ''FUN! Online Games'', which focuses on various kid and family oriented [[online game]] sites, including [[Webkinz]], [[Club Penguin]], [[Neopets]], [[Disney Online]] and [[Wizard 101]]. According to the company, in its first month it had 100,000 readers.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Beckett Launches FUN! Online Games Magazine To Feature Kid- and Family-Friendly Online Games and Communities |publisher=Beckett Media |url=http://www.pr-inside.com/beckett-launches-fun-online-games-magazine-to-r1518676.htm |date=October 18, 2009 |accessdate=October 30, 2009 }}</ref>
It also publishes four magazines covering non-sports collectible card games, such as ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', and hobby/entertainment topics such as [[anime]] and [[manga]].<ref name="CorpOverview" /><ref name="Gamasutra" /> In 2005, the various titles had a combined circulation of 800,000 copies. In 2008, the circulation varies between 500,000 and 700,000, and the company began cutting back on its monthly publications to reduce overhead. While the plan was successful, it also earned the company flack from consumers and caused an continuing decrease in sales.<ref name="CirculationDropped">{{cite web |url=http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/05/12/story9.html |title=Less than four years later, Beckett again for sale |first=Dave |last=Moore |work=[[Dallas Business Journal]] |date=May 13, 2008 |accessdate=September 21, 2008 }}</ref> In 2003, [[virtual pets]] site [[Neopets]] selected Beckett Media as the publisher of its new monthly ''Neopets: The Official Magazine''. The bi-monthly magazine premiered in September 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neopets.com/nf.phtml?nf_date=2003-09-08 |title=Neopets News |publisher=Neopets |date=September 11, 2003 |accessdate=June 12, 2008 }}</ref>, and was canceled in January 2008 after 26 issues. Beckett replace the issues remaining in pre-paid subscriptions with their new bi-monthly magazine, ''Plushie Pals''.<ref>Letter to subscribers sent by Beckett media</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=September 2008}} Aimed at plushie collectors, ''Plushie Pals'' includes pricing guides for a range of plushie lines, including Neopets, [[Webkinz]], [[Shining Stars]], [[TY Beanie Babies]], and [[Pokémon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_July_3/ai_n19332108 |title=Red Hot Collectibles Covered in Beckett's Plushie Pals |work=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |date=July 3, 2007 |accessdate=September 21, 2008 }}</ref> In October 2009, it introduced a new magazine, ''FUN! Online Games'', which focuses on various kid and family oriented [[online game]] sites, including [[Webkinz]], [[Club Penguin]], [[Neopets]], [[Disney Online]] and [[Wizard 101]]. According to the company, in its first month it had 100,000 readers.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Beckett Launches FUN! Online Games Magazine To Feature Kid- and Family-Friendly Online Games and Communities |publisher=Beckett Media |url=http://www.pr-inside.com/beckett-launches-fun-online-games-magazine-to-r1518676.htm |date=October 18, 2009 |accessdate=October 30, 2009 }}</ref>

Revision as of 18:12, 21 March 2010

Beckett Media
Company typePrivate (subsidiary)
Industrypublication, sports memorabilia
Genrecollectibles, sports, trading cards
FoundedBowling Green, Ohio (1984)
FounderJames Beckett
Headquarters
Dallas, Texas
,
U.S.
Area served
U.S.
Key people
Peter A. Gudmundsson, CEO
Productssports memorabilia, pricing guides
Revenue$14.1 million (2007)[1]
Number of employees
135[1]
ParentApprise Media
Divisionsmagazine publication, Beckett Grading Services
Websitehttp://www.beckett.com/

Beckett Media is a privately held subsidiary of Apprise Media. Founded in 1984 by James Beckett, the company focuses on the collectible industries, especially in the area of sports collectibles.

History

James Beckett, considered to be one of the world's leading authorities on sports memorabilia cards, was a statistics professor before he decided to turn his love of sports cards into a business.[2] He founded Beckett Media in 1984.[3]

In January 2005, Beckett sold the company to Apprise Media, which wanted to expand its niche and enthusiast media holdings.[2][4] On January 26, Apprise Media hired Peter A. Gudmundsson as the company CEO.[5]

Less than four years after the Apprise Media acquisition, Beckett Media was rumored to again be for sale in May 2008, with five unspecified companies considering purchasing the company.[6]

In 2010, the company began an overhaul of its online presence. On March 8, 2010, the company announced that it was partnering with SeatGeek as part of its website enhancement. Through the partnership, sports ticket search engine SeatGeek links will be included on all of the site's major sports team and leagues pages that allow viewers to directly access SeatGeek's ticket search system for that team.[7]

Products

Magazines

Beckett Media publishes, on a regular basis, seven magazines nearing 40 issues a year in addition to annual books for baseball, football, basketball, hockey and auto racing. Its first issue of Beckett Baseball Card Monthly was published in 1984. Its first books are traced back to 1979.

Beckett's magazine lineup presently includes Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Beckett Baseball (10 issues a year), Beckett Football (eight issues a year), Beckett Basketball (six issues a year), Beckett Hockey (six issues a year), Beckett Graded Card Investor (six issues a year) and the newly relaunched Beckett Racing (four times a year). Before BSCM was created, there were single monthly sports titles for each of those sports.

Its circulation tops 1.1 million.title

It also publishes four magazines covering non-sports collectible card games, such as Magic: The Gathering, and hobby/entertainment topics such as anime and manga.[8][9] In 2005, the various titles had a combined circulation of 800,000 copies. In 2008, the circulation varies between 500,000 and 700,000, and the company began cutting back on its monthly publications to reduce overhead. While the plan was successful, it also earned the company flack from consumers and caused an continuing decrease in sales.[6] In 2003, virtual pets site Neopets selected Beckett Media as the publisher of its new monthly Neopets: The Official Magazine. The bi-monthly magazine premiered in September 2003[10], and was canceled in January 2008 after 26 issues. Beckett replace the issues remaining in pre-paid subscriptions with their new bi-monthly magazine, Plushie Pals.[11][unreliable source?] Aimed at plushie collectors, Plushie Pals includes pricing guides for a range of plushie lines, including Neopets, Webkinz, Shining Stars, TY Beanie Babies, and Pokémon.[12] In October 2009, it introduced a new magazine, FUN! Online Games, which focuses on various kid and family oriented online game sites, including Webkinz, Club Penguin, Neopets, Disney Online and Wizard 101. According to the company, in its first month it had 100,000 readers.[13]

The company made its first foray into the video game arena in 2006, with the creation of Beckett Massive Online Gamer. The first issue was released in May 2006 and included information for players of various massively multiplayer online games (MMORGs), products related to the games, and articles on lifestyle and entertainment topics.[9] Beckett Media publishes numerous price guides and other books related to collectibles and distributes sports memorabilia.[8] In 2008, it converted its four monthly price guides for football, baseball, hockey, and basketball cards, into seasonal titles. Becket Sports Card Monthly became its only monthly sports related magazine with its premiere in April 2008.[14]

Sports card grading

Beckett Media runs a sports card grading service, Beckett Grading Services, which is the exclusive grader and authenticator of Topps Vault trading cards.[8][15]

Fanspot.com

In November 2005, the company began working to create a social networking website for casual sports fans. In April 2006, they launched the resulting site, FanSpot.com, at the 2006 National Sports Collectors Convention.[16][17] By the end of the month, the site had 1800 registered users.[18]

Criticism

Since 2001, the circulation of the company's monthly publications showed steady decline. In 2008, Beckett began restructuring its titles, converting its four monthly sports specific pricing guides to seasonal titles, and replacing them with a single monthly title.[14] This angered some collectors, resulting in a further decrease in sales. Others in the industry also questioned Beckett's choice, feeling they company should have raised the magazine prices rather than drop titles.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Beckett Media". Hoover's. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Churcher, Sharon (January 19, 2008). "Mark Thatcher's ex-wife Diane to marry £15 million American tycoon". Mail Online. The Daily Mail. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  3. ^ "Beckett Media LP". Apprise Media. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  4. ^ "Apprise Media Acquires CFW Enterprises, Leading Publisher of Action Sports Magazines; Names..." Business Wire. August 17, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  5. ^ "Gudmundsson Named CEO of Beckett Media; Will Work to Expand Company Through New Products & Services" (Press release). Business Wire. January 26, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c Moore, Dave (May 13, 2008). "Less than four years later, Beckett again for sale". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  7. ^ "Beckett Media Signs Partnership with SeatGeek" (Press release). PR Web. March 8, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "Corporate Overview". Becket Media. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  9. ^ a b Dobson, Jason (April 13, 2006). "Beckett to Launch MMOG Magazine". Gamasutra. Think Services. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  10. ^ "Neopets News". Neopets. September 11, 2003. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  11. ^ Letter to subscribers sent by Beckett media
  12. ^ "Red Hot Collectibles Covered in Beckett's Plushie Pals". Business Wire. CNET Networks. July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  13. ^ "Beckett Launches FUN! Online Games Magazine To Feature Kid- and Family-Friendly Online Games and Communities" (Press release). Beckett Media. October 18, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
  14. ^ a b "2008 Beckett Sports Lineup FAQ". Beckett Media. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  15. ^ "Beckett Partners". Beckett Media. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  16. ^ Davis, Steve (August 22, 2006). "Stars' version of two-a-days". WFAA. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  17. ^ "FanSpot Asks: Are You Fan Enough?". FindArticles.com, Market Wire. 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  18. ^ Batheja, Aman (August 30, 2006). "Company takes a swing at creating a MySpace for sports fans". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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