VALENCIA, CA (BRAIN)—In a world where consumers increasingly turn to the wealth of free content online rather than pay for print newspapers and magazines, H3 Publications is experiencing just the opposite with tri-magazine.
Launched in May as a free digital publication for computers and mobile devices, tri-magazine has had more than 700,000 unique downloads over its eight monthly issues so far. But it turns out free online content wasn’t enough for readers. “They want that print,” said H3 publisher Dave House.
So in January, in response to reader request, tri-magazine will begin publishing a monthly print edition to complement its digital offering.
The magazine will be printed in a large coffee-table format on heavy stock and will be available at Barnes & Noble, Books A Million and Chapters locations. Cover price will be $8.99, with annual subscriptions at $53. An initial run of 50,000 issues is planned, House said.
Tri-magazine’s digital version will continue as a free offering, focusing on regional and smaller international triathlons, while the print magazine will cover the sport’s more high-profile events.
“Tri is the fastest-growing Olympic sport in the world,” House said. “On tri-magazine, the number of pages being printed on the training stories is amazing.”
H3, headquartered in Valencia, California, also publishes Decline and Road magazines.
—Toby Hill
thill@bicycleretailer.com
