The famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition is about to hit the newsstands. But over the years this popular page-turner has morphed into an outrageous franchise. According to The New York Times (free registration required) fans can also view the bikini clad models at the SI website, and purchase videos from iTunes. Sports 
Illustrated even cut a deal with American Greetings Interactive to provide download content to cell phones.
Newsstand sales are projected at about 1.5 million copies, in addition to the 3.3 million delivered to subscribers. With total pass-along, readership of the swimsuit issue is estimated at 60 million; making it the most widely read single issue of any magazine in the world.
Oh, and this issue will be premiered on television by Jay Leno of The Tonight Show. "It is the mother ship of what we do. We want to leverage the power of that franchise," said Mr. Ford, president of publisher. "Sports Illustrated is a multimedia brand. It's a magazine, it's online, it's mobile, it's an event."
I wonder if I can create the same sort of franchise by posing topless in my bathing suit? Do you think this would work in general for stocky, middle-aged men?
Posted by: Devin Thorpe | February 14, 2006 11:39 PM | Permalink to Comment