Haymarket licenses Stuff to launch in Myanmar

A test issue is being sent to advertisers this week, and monthly publication is slated to begin with the June issue in late May. The magazine will be published in Burmese with circulation of around 15,000 and a cover price of 3000 Myanmat Kyat (US$3.35), according to Haymarket Media. (Haymarket is also the publisher of Campaign Asia-Pacific.)

August Myanmar Media is headquartered in Yangon and has a branch office in Mandalay. The company publishes a weekly called Tech Space Journal as well as monthlies Next (a fashion and lifestyle title) and Auto Mobile PC Guide.

Stuff will be the first full-colour international magazine in Myanmar and the first to launch since the market opened up, according to Edward Marr, head of licensing development in Asia for Haymarket.

"Being the first major brand of its kind to enter the Myanmar market is tremendously exciting," Marr said. "Our partner is an expert in the consumer-electronics sector, with a proven record of delivering high-quality content to Myanmar readers in print and online. With all the major technology sectors set for huge growth we are perfectly positioned to offer our regional advertiser base access to engage readers in print, with plans for online and mobile in the coming year."

The personal technology market in Myanmar—like many other markets—is set to skyrocket in the country now that economic restrictions have been eased. For example, the government has stated that it wants to drive mobile-phone penetration from 6 percent of the country's 60 million citizens today to 75 or 80 per cent by 2016.

A Stuff Myanmar Facebook page, set up a month ago, has attracted more than 5000 fans who are actively sharing content, according to Marr.

Stuff is published in 27 countries worldwide including China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.