Playboy pulls the plug on its print edition as it blames ‘disruption’ caused by coronavirus

Playboy pulls the plug on its print edition as it blames ‘disruption’ caused by coronavirus for its decision to move the adult magazine online

  • Playboy announced it will be switching to a digital-first publishing schedule 
  • CEO of Playboy Enterprises said decision was made in light of coronavirus
  • According to Mr Kohn, the epidemic had ‘accelerated’ internal conversations
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Playboy has cited coronavirus as the reason why it is pulling the plug on its print edition and moving the publication online. 

Playboy enterprises announced on Wednesday that its Spring 2020 issue will be its final printed publication of the year in the US. 

CEO of Playboy Enterprises, Ben Kohn, said in an open letter published yesterday that the decision to stop printing the magazine was made in light of the ‘disruption’ caused from the coronavirus emergency. 

Playboy has cited coronavirus as the reason why it is suspending its print edition and moving the publication online

Mr Kohn said the epidemic had ‘accelerated’ internal conversations on how to transform the print publication to ‘better suit’ readers of the adult magazine. 

‘Last week, as the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic to content production and the supply chain became clearer and clearer, we were forced to accelerate a conversation we’ve been having internally: the question of how to transform our U.S. print product to better suit what consumers want today, and how to utilize our industry-leading content production capabilities to engage in a cultural conversation each and every day, rather than just every three months,’ Mr Kohn wrote. 

He continued: ‘With all of this in mind, we have decided that our Spring 2020 Issue, which arrives on U.S. newsstands and as a digital download this week, will be our final printed publication for the year in the U.S.’

Playboy was founded by Hugh Hefner (pictured in 2011) and his associates in Chicago in 1953

Playboy was founded by Hugh Hefner (pictured in 2011) and his associates in Chicago in 1953

After that, the magazine will move all its content including the Playboy Interview, 20Q, the Playboy Advisor and the Playmate pictorials to a digital-first publishing schedule. 

Mr Kohn added that the magazine would still have ‘print offerings’ going forward. ‘In 2021, alongside our digital content offerings and new consumer product launches, we will bring back fresh and innovative printed offerings in a variety of new forms–through special editions, partnerships with the most provocative creators, timely collections and much more.’

‘Print is how we began and print will always be a part of who we are.’

Playboy was founded by Hugh Hefner and his associates in Chicago in 1953 and developed into one of the world’s best known brands, famous for its nude and semi-nude models. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk