Shakeup in the trades

Redundancy is a dangerous thing in today's media world. I'm sure Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News have separate missions for covering the television industry, but apparently they're not separate enough for owner Reed Television Group (parent of Variety). A news release describes "a new editorial structure" that will advance growth in new online media. As part of the overhaul, Tom Steinert-Threlkeld will oversee both publications. B&C editor-in-chief Max Robins has left his position after three-and-a-half years, and the publication’s executive editor, Mark Robichaux, will head up the daily operations. Here's Nikki Finke's take:

Insiders tell me that both magazines are profitable but today's shakeup and layoffs are the result of gently declining revenue growth since 2000, the peak of the ad market (except for 2004 when ad sales were up). The problem is that the core business for both titles is "seriously impaired": there are fewer cable networks and suppliers, and there is much less syndication. "Because both magazines are profitable, we don't want to shut either. But we've got to get costs in line and trim editorial without hurting the books." While B&C is considered the marquee name, MultiChannel News is seen as having a clearer value proposition. But management is looking at better defining the editorial spin of each title and, if it can't do that, then maybe two will become one.