Publisher PM looks to TV and IT expansion

Following the liquidation of magazine "Pilot Telewizyjny", its publisher Pilot Media (PM) intends to concentrate on the expansion of a TV channel and its IT portal. Earlier, PM announced the magazine would be the strongest item in the project combining all three media. According to the business plan, the magazine was to generate the largest revenues over the first 2-3 years. Although sales oscillated at 50.000-60.000 copies, the plans of the publisher were much more ambitious since it intended to sell 500.000 copies. "We wanted to re-launch the magazine after the summer holidays but eve ntually abandoned the idea and now we want to concentrate on the TV ch annel", says PM president Bogusław Zięba. "So far $3 million has been invested in the project. The channel is expanding unexpectedly well and at the end of the year it should start generating some profit. PM management is considering entering foreign markets, but I cannot disclose any more details says Piotr Bardadin, the majority shareholder in PM. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Aug. 23-24; p. 27) A.Z.